Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/28/2021 6:32:40 AM

For years the topic of Publix coming to Alex city has been discussed here on these pages.  Plenty of speculation and conjecture with rumores flying about them coming and not coming and the reasons why.  Now actual city officials are discussing it publicly and nobody here utters a peep.  Two current articles in the Outlook show how disfunctional the City has actually been for years.

When it was first announced that the new school was going at the corner of 280 and 63 I was flabbergasted.  That is the most prominent corner in the county and prime for retail development, yet our "leaders" dicide to put a school there, at the busiest intersection in the county.  It made no sense, but was typical for AC.  The plan was in place and funding secured and the new school was a go.  Until last week when suddenly it was announced the new school had been put on hold.

This week it announced that a developer with close ties to Publix wants to come to that intersection.  Go figure.  Speculation was that they were going to the other side of 63 which made no sense because of very limited 280 access on that side.  Then in todays Outlook council president Buffy Colvin comes clean.  This developer has been trying to get the property for 5 years and from the tone of the article it sounds like the council has fought them every step of the way.  

Everyone should go to the Outlook and read the two articles that are up and read it for yourself.  It is just disgusting to me that the City has not pushed this through.  There is NO capital outlay for the city, only reduction in sales tax for them up to 7.5 million.  SOP for recruting new business/industry.  I belive the new Mayor had a big hand in getting this out and in the works.  The old status quo would have never pushed this and just let the new school be built there instead of over near the sportplex where it should logically go IMO.  Anywhere but the prime retail location of 63 and 280.

Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/30/2021 10:55:30 PM

   NO

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 6:09:19 AM

Cute.  You think you are so right you have to yell answer that you already stated days ago.  

So your postion is there can't/won't be a Publix in Sylacauga and AC as if they are competing markets.  That's idiotic.  There is a Walmart in both so why not a chain grocery also?  Competion doesn't hurt business, it creates business BTW.

You other position is that AC is too poor to support a Publix, at least that is what your other post implies because you refer to how many folks in AC get "free lunches".  NEWS FLASH, poor people by groceries also and NOT solely at Walmart.  If fact lower income folks are much more likely to buy at multiple locations "chasing the sales" to save a few bucks and Publix is known for thier BOGO items.  Oh, and they accept food stamps and WIC vouchers Just like Walmart.

Now please explain why developers closely associated with Publix would be in AC for 5 years trying to negotiate a deal if they had no intention to build here.  It doesn't make sense.  Publix is a very popular chain and is highly sought after by many communities so why keep coming here to try and negotiate a deal if they have no interest in locating here?  I can assure you that they have much more pertinent data on what metrics they look for when scouting locations than you do and I doubt very seriuosly how many free lunches the school gives out is one of them.  

But heres the real questoin I would like you to answer, why are you so down on AC and poor people in general?

Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 10:50:59 AM

   I am not down on alex city. I have been here since 1968 i have seen what has happened to our town.  I know who and what companies wanted to come here as russell started to close. Those companies saw a work force already here, a work force that wanted to work. Workers that were allready trained in the manufactoring process. I worked with headhunters that were hired by maufactures to find ares that had the things they needed.  One was not wanted because they were union and payed to high of wages. During this time the city purchased the property for more than 4000.00 dollar per acre. Nothing is there today but trees. But they stopped another for coming in and quietly purchasing said property.  Belive me when i say many looked at this area and were interested but were not courted.  

   We had a local bussiness that tried feverishly to purchase part of the russell complex. Said company were going to do all improvement theirselves. They were not allowed to purchase but the company that did had many demands that were met. One was hundereds of yards if not thousands of concrete dumped in a hole. 

   One might aslo ask why temp services so successful in this area.  I would thing if alex city had a large work force that you allude to why such bussiness would could survive. 

   Now that it appears the present washington admistration raising capitol gains tax to the 30"s that manufctoring will be leaving again. Alex city has little chance of attracting new bussiness. 

   All what i have said Saddens me but it is the truth. We need to come together and preserve what we have instead of trying to aquire more with little no return.  If this offends or angers you i am sorry but is the truth and factual. 

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 2:58:02 PM

Interesting.  Confirmation of what I have felt was happening since mills pulled out.  Shame.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 4:05:28 PM

Preserve what you have - what is it exactly you think you have?  The city has made the decision to pursue tourism on Lake Martin as their future revenue source.  So, to me that says that they have given up pursuing manufacturing to come to Alex City, in favor of more building and development on the lake.  They were thrilled that RL decided to develop Wicker Point, because that is in their tax base.  

You may as well let go of the past.  The skilled workforce that was once here has dispersed to other jobs and in a lot of cases, to retirement.  If there are any left, they are commuting to Auburn, and Montgomery for manufacturing job.  You can talk about Alex City and "poor people" all you want, but you are ignoring a growing population of full timers on the lake who have some money and care about having decent shopping venues.  

Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 4:50:05 PM

   Hound that growing population you speak of is only in your mind!  Falling school enrollment in all area schools with the exception of one. Lack of emploment that contribute to the local tax base. Are major problems of Alexander City. Very little of the shores of Lake Martin fall within the City limits of Alexander City. I might add it has increased with the addition of Wicker Point. But will it be as Willow Point and be classified as 25A school district? As for area population it has decreased not increased. 

   When you speak the story of a "Frog in a Boiler" comes to mind.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 5:25:35 PM

We're talking about tax revenue from lake people spending money in Alex City.  And they were pretty thrilled to find out that RL was going to develop Wicker Point. Pretty thrilled that Russell decide to build  Full timers shop for food, and other things in Alex City - and would buy more if there were places here to spend money for the things people want.  People are retiring here.  And then, during the season, the population swells - I guess you probaby haven't noticed how many new subdivisions there are on the lake.  

In case you haven't noticed, school enrollments are down everywhere, because the number of children being born is down.  Additionally, a lot of people home school or send their kids to private school, given the dismal prospect of public schooling in Alabama.  

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 5:25:36 PM

We're talking about tax revenue from lake people spending money in Alex City.  And they were pretty thrilled to find out that RL was going to develop Wicker Point. Pretty thrilled that Russell decide to build  Full timers shop for food, and other things in Alex City - and would buy more if there were places here to spend money for the things people want.  People are retiring here.  And then, during the season, the population swells - I guess you probaby haven't noticed how many new subdivisions there are on the lake.  

In case you haven't noticed, school enrollments are down everywhere, because the number of children being born is down.  Additionally, a lot of people home school or send their kids to private school, given the dismal prospect of public schooling in Alabama.  

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 7:00:04 PM

Ok, so every word you say is true, what does that have to do with the city moving forward?  Everyone knows the city council was a rubber stamp for RL and only did what RL wanted which was primarily stopping anything form coming here that would compete with them in any business.  They have wanted for the last 3 decades for the lake to be a millionaires playground.  Those days appear to be behind us with the new mayor.  He is trying to look forward, not backward.

Hound pointed out the truths on the school numbers and you must not realize that most all industry in this country now uses the temp to hire formula.  They use temps beuase it is cheaper than providing benefits.   The ones that will actually work get offered permanent full time work and the ones that don't are told not to come back.  My better half deals with hundreds of them everyday.

All that being said, why would any of that stop Publix?  They want the best deal they can get and the Mayor wants the best deal for the city.  A compromise can and hopefully will be reached.  The last thing the city needs is more debt after the City Hall fiasco, which I think was a big part in why Woody won.  The 'good ol' boy network" failed this city miserably, but hopefully it is moving beyond that now,

Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 7:37:48 PM

   Hound I nominate you and lifer and wix as head of a new committee to help the greater Alexander City area.  No matter what the subject is, the three of you have all the facts and the answers. You know exactly what has been done wrong and along with what is right. You have no problem with belittling someone and casting insulting remarks. Not the trait a committee member needs to use. But heck with your infinate wisdom we can overlook bad traits. Especially if we have resturants, entertainment venues, retail bussinesses, hotels and motels, manufactoring, maybe a vehicle mfg, or two, lined up along Hwy 280,22,and 63, waiting to talk to the local city liceness office!!!!  Again all this would be from your infinate wisdom on this new committee you would chair with your select like thinking friends.

Name:	wix -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 8:23:37 PM

Sorry realfast, but I’m too old to fix stupid.  My old hometown has most of the same problems!!

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	5/31/2021 9:17:51 PM

WTF is wrong with you.  Nobody has hurled any insults at you or belittled you in any way.  Hell, I stiplated to all your facts in the above post.  You are the one who has claimed to "know" all the facts aoubt what happened here in the 90's.  I was an occasional visiter here during that time but was working on comimtees and boards in my hometown and town wehre I worked running a business or three.  You have posted the same rant several time though the years about what happened in the 90's.  We are in the 3rd decade of the 21st century, get over it. The job market has changed, the jobs themselves have changed, Alec City hasn't, but we have new leadership trying to change that.  We should all get behind them, not criticize them over the sins of the past.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Is Publix coming?
Date:	6/1/2021 8:41:13 AM

I agree.  Woody Baird has been a breath of fresh air in Alex City.  He has made public the problems that have been bubbling under the radar in AC.  Those that were upset when the new Town Hall was purchased, would have been even more upset had they known about the financial and infrastructure problems in AC that have been hidden.  Woody has put it all out there.  

A lot of people like to bemoan the past of AC, but the truth is that the past is over and they need to get over it and look to the future. A failure to do so will only allow AC to dry up and blow away. 

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Hey Realfast...
Date:	6/2/2021 6:37:03 AM

Read my latest post on Lake Topics and then shove it up your @ss.  

I guess all those free lunches didn't matter after all, huh.  From your rants on the subject one might infer that you are jealous and pissed that you had to pay for your kids school lunches, or maybe it is just general disdain for lower income folks.  Either way it says a lot more about you than anyone receiving said lunches,

Now that was belittling and demeaning, just so you know the difference,

Name:	realfast64 -	Reply
Subject:	Hey Realfast...
Date:	6/2/2021 9:28:32 PM

  Since the public doesnt put their flier in the outlook you might go to sylacauga and pick up a paper there it has a Public weekly flier.

Name:	Lifer -	Reply
Subject:	Hey Realfast...
Date:	6/3/2021 5:28:29 AM

WTF does this even mean?  I don't even pick one up when I am in Publix, why would I drive anywhere to get one?