Name:   au67 - Subject:   Alabama Power Waiver Date:   1/17/2015 9:44:41 AM

Alabama Power waives permits for lake property owners ‘cleaning up’

Published 10:01am Friday, January 16, 2015

Property owners on the shores of Lake Martin can partner with Alabama Power to improve old piers, boathouses and other structures on the lake in 2015.

“Alabama Power is waiving permit fees to repair or replace decayed or neglected structures that sit on the lake,” said Alabama Power spokesperson Jacki Thacker.

Alabama Power is seeking to preserve lake shorelines not only at Lake Martin, but the other Alabama Power lakes as well. Included in the initiative are Smith Lake, Weiss Lake, Lake Harris, Yates and Thurlow Reservoirs, Lake Logan Martin, Neely Henry Lake, Lay Lake, Lake Mitchell Lake Jordan and Lake Bouldin.

Not only is Alabama Power waiving the permit fees, they are also helping with the disposal.

“Alabama Power will also provide trash removal sites to discard disassembled during the annual Renew Our Rivers cleanups,” Thacker said. “Alabama Power may provide more locations, too.”

Rhett Hanks is heading up the program at Lake Martin, Yates and Thurlow and he can be reached at 256-825-0053.

Officials say that the idea was to eliminate as much of the red tape as possible, making it easier for owners to get projects done.

“We know lake residents take pride in their homes and weekend retreats, and hope these incentives will help make decisions about upgrades or repairs that much easier,” said Bill Edge, shoreline supervisor for Alabama Power in a released statement. “As we increase our focus on aging shoreline structures and those in disrepair, Alabama Power will continue to reach our to lake residents to help them find ways to voluntarily repair or remove structures during 2015.”

For more on this program and the Alabama Power Shoreline Management program, visit www.apcshorelines.com.