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Post by catscratchfever4 on Jan 29, 2019 15:40:14 GMT -6
There's an article on the TimesDaily's site this morning confirming it. Specifically says the meeting is to discuss the ag center. I'd love to go if I were in Florence. The proposed budget, according to the article, is $45 million. I'm not sure if that's just a "phase 1" total or what. I googled arena costs just to get an idea, and for example, Auburn's new arena in 2010 was $92 million. Construction costs have definitely went up since then. So, I'm not really sure what to expect. I have found the prices of arenas, stadiums and facilities in general for Colleges and universities, especially well known ones, generally cost a lot more money for whatever reason. Could be the extra stuff the university wants in it for recruiting, or the contractors get together and know they have to take the lowest bid, and keep the floor at a high level. If that makes any sense. I was talking to a relative of mine, she is in administrative roll at Vandy, I showed her the new Science and Technology building at UNA. She said if that would have been built at Vandy it would have cost 3× more for the same building. I've said that many of times over the years that, because of our extremely low cost of living, anything you do here will cost hundreds of thousands less than almost any university in America. A northern school my have a $20 million football budget but that doesn't mean ours has to be that high. We could have the same things at half the price.
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Post by catscratchfever4 on Jan 29, 2019 15:47:22 GMT -6
The politicians around here are the worst. It would be funny if it wasn't a little depressing. Seriously, how many times has the Shoals had some wonderful project dangled in front of them by a sleazy politician or developer, just to see nothing ever happen? Remember the "tourist attraction" at Veterans Park? Remember the "theme park" in Muscle Shoals (that one died a pretty quick death)? This project? The "Inspiration Landing" over in Sheffield that was supposed to break ground probably 2 years ago, but has yet to, even though the local paper keeps printing fluff pieces with quotes from the developer? Who can take any of these people seriously anymore? You know why that happens? A majority in the Shoals refuse to voice their opinions about anthing. Then that little wad of about 50 people always raise hell against it and it looks like no one wants it. Name the last big thing built in the Shoals with your everyday working man and woman in mind. Good luck. The Shoals: Where good ideas die a tragic death but Dick's "roundabout" is being built. LOOK OUT NASHVILLE! Here comes East Florence! Entertainment Capital of the Southeast!
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Post by northalaspectator on Jan 29, 2019 16:28:38 GMT -6
Probably more people would be backing it.
If they had let the people know in the beginning on what the plans were for funding it and possible other sources for funding it. They decided on the funding without any input from the citizens.
Today after two years they can’t tell you how much land they will need for the arena, exhibit hall and parking.
They have an ideal of what they want, but no real plans. They have money coming in around $80,000 every month and a few bills, but they have no budget.
Even the Chairman of the Ag Bd. In a public meeting on December 26 said that “we’ll admit we don’t know what we’re doing.”
At the last public meeting they refused to let anyone ask questions. At previous public meetings if a question was asked and a member didn’t like that question they would walk out.
They are a public group try to act like they are a private group with public money trying to build something on land that is owed by them without any public involvement.
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Post by unafied on Jan 30, 2019 8:59:24 GMT -6
Probably more people would be backing it. If they had let the people know in the beginning on what the plans were for funding it and possible other sources for funding it. They decided on the funding without any input from the citizens. Today after two years they can’t tell you how much land they will need for the arena, exhibit hall and parking. They have an ideal of what they want, but no real plans. They have money coming in around $80,000 every month and a few bills, but they have no budget. Even the Chairman of the Ag Bd. In a public meeting on December 26 said that “we’ll admit we don’t know what we’re doing.” At the last public meeting they refused to let anyone ask questions. At previous public meetings if a question was asked and a member didn’t like that question they would walk out. They are a public group try to act like they are a private group with public money trying to build something on land that is owed by them without any public involvement. Great summary. Too many times we have "idea people" come to the Shoals with what sounds like, on paper, a great project that would be very beneficial to the area. The biggest problem is there never being the right people to oversee things and make sure it happens on time, on budget, etc. Since it's usually politicians that end up being in that position, the only solution is to elect better politicians. But then, at least IMO, you need better candidates to run than what Alabama usually gets. I'm sure the ag center would be a nice educational tool for the area. But the part we care about the most, the arena, probably needs to be scrapped for it to ever have a chance. I don't think they'll ever come up with the money for it, and honestly, if an arena is ever to be built in the area, it would be a better fit in downtown Florence where you could combine events held there with some nightlife and nearby hotels.
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Post by lions09 on Jan 30, 2019 11:36:29 GMT -6
Probably more people would be backing it. If they had let the people know in the beginning on what the plans were for funding it and possible other sources for funding it. They decided on the funding without any input from the citizens. Today after two years they can’t tell you how much land they will need for the arena, exhibit hall and parking. They have an ideal of what they want, but no real plans. They have money coming in around $80,000 every month and a few bills, but they have no budget. Even the Chairman of the Ag Bd. In a public meeting on December 26 said that “we’ll admit we don’t know what we’re doing.” At the last public meeting they refused to let anyone ask questions. At previous public meetings if a question was asked and a member didn’t like that question they would walk out. They are a public group try to act like they are a private group with public money trying to build something on land that is owed by them without any public involvement. Melson should have been voted out but we're stuck with him, now. He has no idea how to do his job. Didn't even vote until he ran for office.
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Post by catscratchfever4 on Jan 30, 2019 16:27:07 GMT -6
Maybe but it's a fact he's better than the one he ran against.
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Post by lions09 on Jan 30, 2019 17:04:34 GMT -6
Maybe but it's a fact he's better than the one he ran against. I, respectfully, disagree. Coach Self's granddaughter is very impressive.
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Post by catscratchfever4 on Jan 31, 2019 22:59:27 GMT -6
Maybe but it's a fact he's better than the one he ran against. I, respectfully, disagree. Coach Self's granddaughter is very impressive. Maybe. What are her qualifications? Just wondering.
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Post by lions09 on Feb 1, 2019 11:46:28 GMT -6
I, respectfully, disagree. Coach Self's granddaughter is very impressive. Maybe. What are her qualifications? Just wondering.
Attorney and former White House staff. When he first ran, he was a retired anesthesiologist that didn't vote in elections. That lack of experience is showing.
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Post by unalions on Feb 20, 2019 13:58:14 GMT -6
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Post by brandon on Feb 20, 2019 15:34:38 GMT -6
Turning into a joke...
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Post by unafied on Feb 20, 2019 16:19:58 GMT -6
Ah, Shoals politics. Same last names, same “do-nothing” attitudes. Kick the can down the road as long as it somehow keeps you in power. Don’t let any actual progress happen unless you can negotiate a way to slap your name on it, even if it takes decades. And certainly don’t let the Average Joe in on the secrets.
17th verse, same as the first...
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Post by northalaspectator on Mar 22, 2019 14:03:08 GMT -6
There was an Agricultural Board meeting today March 22nd. They came with a little more information on what they are possibly looking at. On the Arena it will have a permanent Stage for Entertainment. 5500 permanent seating 2000 bleacher type seating 2200 floor seating Talking about the Arena and the seating starts around tthe 23 or 24 minutes in the video. www.facebook.com/nancy.muse/videos/10218068410092517?sfns=mo
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Post by unafied on Mar 22, 2019 17:28:23 GMT -6
There was an Agricultural Board meeting today March 22nd. They came with a little more information on what they are possibly looking at. On the Arena it will have a permanent Stage for Entertainment. 5500 permanent seating 2000 bleacher type seating 2200 floor seating Talking about the Arena and the seating starts around tthe 23 or 24 minutes in the video. www.facebook.com/nancy.muse/videos/10218068410092517?sfns=moThanks for the link! I watched the presentation on the arena (despite the dizzying camera work). I’m... intrigued. I’m not so sure capacity would be 10k in a basketball setup, but it would still be up there. If we committed to playing there, even for just certain games, it would easily give us the largest arena in the ASUN. I’m sure the newness of the arena would draw some people for a while. Otherwise I’m not sure playing there would be a good idea. One or two thousand people in an arena that large would not make for a good basketball environment. Of course, that’s assuming we even have any desire to play games there, and that it gets built with that large of a capacity (or that it even gets built at all). I’ve expressed my doubts that anything ever happens with this project and I’m not backing off now. I’m “Missouri” - show me - about all of this until structures start to be built, at least. FWIW, the TimesDaily had an editorial a few days ago that was critical of the project: Ag center: $5.6 million spent, but still no details. At least this video helps to change the “no details” part a bit.
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Post by lions09 on Mar 23, 2019 12:15:00 GMT -6
I'm still skeptical that Melson can pull this together. Watching these videos makes me shake my head at the folks people elect around here.
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