BY HANNAH GOLDFINGER
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY —The Lee County Commission chambers were full of concerned citizens at the Monday, Jan. 12 meeting. Many were there to speak about an aerial photography contract for the county.
A page from the Lee County Commission online packet was shared broadly on social media in the community regarding an aerial photography contract for property evaluation and assessment. The contract will allow a company, Pictometry International Corp. doing business as Eagleview, to conduct aerial photography from planes over Lee county and the cities of Auburn and Opelika. It is a joint contract with the county, cities of Auburn and Opelika and Auburn University.
The photo of the packet was circulated, and drew concerns about different issues such as an invasion of privacy, raising of property taxes and the use of drones.
However, the commission and Lee County Revenue Commissioner Oline Price addressed these concerns Monday night during the Lee County Commission Work Session.
“Bottom line is … this is something that we have been doing for decades in Lee County, this is nothing new,” Price said. “Absolutely nothing is new — there are no drones.”
Despite rumors, Price said, this is something that her office must comply with according to Alabama code and something the county has been doing every three years since 1973.
“The primary purpose for aerial photography, or digital imagery, is to provide base maps, base layers, for our maps,” she said.
Price said her office uses aerial photography for property records, for assessing situations following natural disasters — like the 2019 Beauregard tornadoes — or for use in law enforcement or firefighting situations.
She also addressed the rumor regarding property tax increases and said this was not true.
“This has nothing to do with raising people’s taxes, absolutely not,” she said. “Because I want you to remember that [the legislature] put a 7% cap on there.”
The only way the taxes can be raised is if there are “significant improvements” to property, Price said. The purpose of this is to locate properties and assess them.
Price also clarified that this process doesn’t use drones at all but airplanes.
Leading up to the commission meeting, District 1 Commissioner Doug Canon said he had received 51 phone calls, 18 texts and nine emails opposing the resolution on Monday.
Canon said he was not concerned about drones as they aren’t mentioned at all in the contract, but that he is concerned that the item is over budget.
Ultimately, the item was pulled from the agenda.
Several citizens expressed concern during citizens’ comments over the contract following the work session, with one, Robert Wilkins, calling for the item to be postponed for a year.
One Lee County resident, Susan Bolt, expressed disagreement with aerial photography, arguing citizens need less intrusion and “less government.” Bolt also asked the commission how the information will be made safe.
Barbara Gilmer called the contract “an infringement on my private personal rights and my property rights.”
Crawford Fire Department
Many other citizens were present Monday night to discuss an agenda item related to the Crawford Volunteer Fire Department.
The Crawford fire chief and citizens expressed their concerns that the department has been shut down or taken over by Salem.
The fire department has been operating and serving the community since 1974. The issue was added to the agenda by request of citizen Robert Blanton.
“I don’t understand how on Oct. 1 we lost Crawford Fire Department,” he said.
Jeff Drury, Lee County Commissioner District 3, shared that the county did not have a vote related to the department remaining active or not as it was an agreement between Crawford and Salem.
Most of the discussion stemmed from one particular issue which happened before Christmas, where a house burned down and no fire department showed up to fight the blaze, according to citizens. The Smiths Station Fire Department showed up to offer mutual aide but were not the main department to respond.
“We need Crawford,” said one resident, Ed, Monday night. “Anything y’all can do to help Crawford… would be greatly appreciated.”
Most residents were concerned because of the distance and amount of time it would take them to get help.
One resident who lives in Wildberry, Joy Heard, said she bought her home because of its proximity to the Crawford department.
As a child, she experienced her home burning down.
“My mom and my dad, we lost our home due to the fact that [the] fire truck could not get to us quick enough,” Heard said.
She said that she is afraid knowing that Crawford is not an option anymore in case of fire.
“If you lived in Salem, in Crawford, close to that fire station, would you want it gone?”
Other Business
– District 1 Commissioner Ross Morris presented a resolution declaring January Human Trafficking Prevention Month and designated Lee County a “Trafficking Free Zone.”
– Richard LaGrand recognized the upcoming Bell Baptist Missionary Church Centennial.
– County Engineer Justin Hardee presented the Rebuild Alabama Fund Annual Report
– The commission approved ABC License applications (050 and 070) for Anna’s Way in District 4.
– The commission approved ABC License Applications (011 & 990) for Anna’s Way (D4).
– The commission approved an ABC 140 special events license application for Premium Pours.
– The commission approved the ACCA Liability Longevity Bonus and Resolution.
– The commission approved the property division for Sandra Claire Fuller Noe.
– The commission approved the Preliminary Plat Approval for Magnolia Estates, Phase II.
– The commission approved the Lee Road 54 and 146 intersection speed limit reductions.
– The Dream Day Foundation also approached the commission to share about their upcoming MLK Day celebration.
– Loachapoka Mayor Ricky Holder presented Lee County Sheriff Jay Jones with a check from the Loachapoka Syrup Soppin’ Day for the Lee County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy Sheriff Fund.
