JOINT LAND USE STUDY (JLUS)
MINUTES OF PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT MEETING # 1

Thursday, September 20, 2007- 6:00 P.M.
Daleville Convention & Cultural Center
Daleville, AL.  36322

The Fort Rucker Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) project held a public involvement meeting at the Daleville Convention and Cultural Center in Daleville, AL on September 20, 2007. The meeting was called to order at 6:02 P.M. by Mr. Thomas B. Solomon, Executive Director of the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission, the project sponsor. Mr. Solomon welcomed those in attendance and briefly stated that the JLUS project would be directed by Mr. Scott Farmer, Community Development Director with SEARP&DC along with other staff members. This is the first public involvement meeting for the Fort Rucker JLUS project. Those in attendance who signed in were as follows:

Scott Farmer, SEARP&DC
David Lebert, SEARP&DC
Sarah Hesters, SEARP&DC
Thomas B. Solomon, SEARP&DC
George Steuber, Fort Rucker
Jack Holmes, Fort Rucker
Jessica Sammons
Jane McCardle (Wiregrass Aviator)
Randy Tindell, JLUS Committee Member
Mayor Bob Bunting, City of Ozark
Mayor Wess Etheredge, City of Daleville
Larry Pittman, JLUS Committee Member
Billy Blackwell, JLUS Committee Member
Larry Hicks
Kara Episcopo, (Daleville Sun-Courier)
Gary McDaniel
Joe McDaniel
Halpert Byrd
Brenda Byrd

Mr. Scott Farmer provided a brief overview of the JLUS project and explained the various steps that will be involved including the solicitation of public comment on land use around the Fort Rucker military installation footprint. Mr. Farmer stated the JLUS is being funded through a 90% Department of Defense/Office of Economic Adjustment (OEA) grant and the 10% local matching funds are being provided by the Friends of Fort Rucker. The project is expected to take 15 months to complete.

A Department of Defense video, “The Base Next Door” was shown to the attendees. This video highlighted some of the land use issues associated with military base operations and land use patterns of the surrounding areas. The video also explained in some detail the purpose and scope of conducting a JLUS to mitigate some of these issues.

Following the video, Mr. Farmer narrated a detailed slide presentation highlighting the various training facility locations associated with Fort Rucker’s military readiness mission. Mr. Farmer also explained the JLUS committees, (Technical and Working) and their role in making the final recommendations to regional local governments when the JLUS planning study is completed. Mr. Farmer recognized those in attendance who are serving on the JLUS committees.

Following the presentation of these background presentations, Mr. Farmer asked for comments from the citizens attending the meeting. He stated that the project sponsor would take all comments from the floor and would be passing all comments on to the JLUS Technical and Working Committees for discussion.
The following comments were noted;