Semmes community leaders
meet to consider incorporation
By Chip Drago
Mobile Bay Times
Community leaders in Semmes have met to discuss the area’s possible incorporation as a city of about 40,000 residents.
Among those in attendance at the initial gathering earlier this month were Mobile County Commissioner Stephen Nodine, newly-elected state Rep. Chad Fincher, former Mobile County Commission candidate Melvin Pierce and ex-Sheriff Jack Tillman, according to sources in Semmes. State Sen. Rusty Glover of Semmes was out-to-town and unable to attend the meeting. Also attending were about four or five other community figures connected with Friends of Semmes, a well-established community group dedicated to the improvement of the Semmes area.
The group is expected to meet again next week to continue to explore prospective boundaries among other issues. If the matter comes to a referendum and the voters approve, Semmes would become the 11th municipality in Mobile County.
The area generally envisioned for incorporation includes one high school, one middle school (the state’s largest) and three elementary schools.
“I’ve heard even as far south as Airport Boulevard,” Nodine said of the prospective new city’s southern boundary.
Discussion of incorporation arises in the wake of a Mobile Airport Authority proposal to annex Bates Field and its holdings into the city of Mobile. The airport is situated in west Mobile beyond the city’s corporate limits and south of Semmes.
Mobile Mayor Sam Jones has said he plans to unveil the city's overall annexation proposal for west Mobile early this year.
“If the people of Semmes want to incorporate as a city, that’s their right and I would support it, if they have a vote of the people first and foremost,” said Nodine, in whose county commission district Semmes lies. “It’s a great community, a residential, family community. That’s a big reason why my emphasis since joining the county commission has been the infrastructure out there.”
In early February, ceremonies are set to dedicate a $1 million park with a 3.2 mile walking trail on 40 acres that encompasses Mary G. Montgomery High School, Semmes Middle School and Semmes Elementary School.
“I call that area the University of Semmes,” said Nodine.
“Between that and the almost $100 million in road infrastructure, the Highway 98 work, Semmes is the fastest growing community out there,” the commissioner said. “Lots of high quality homes in what was once a rural community that is now becoming an urban community.”
Before the citizens leap into forming a new city though, Nodine cautioned, “It costs millions of dollars to be a city. This needs to be well-thought out.”
Nodine said he has met regularly with Semmes residents for many months on a variety of issues. On the drawing board now, he said was a new library at the old Semmes Middle School at Wulff Road and renovations to the Boys and Girls Club facilities.
“I’ve met with (school system facilities manager Tommy) Sheffield, Friends of Semmes folks, Elaine Dearmon, Jack, of course, Melvin Pierce, lots of people,” Nodine said. “They are a very active and helpful group.”
Nodine said the bid to annex the airport as a part of the city of Mobile was destined to fail.
“I don’t think it stands a chance,” he said.
Unless the city includes representatives who have the trust of county residents in developing and presenting annexation proposals involving west Mobile, the measures are likely dead on arrival to the extent that the county populace has a say, according to some community leaders in Semmes.
“That’s why they are so afraid of it (annexation),” said Nodine.
“The mayor, the county, the state legislative delegation and affected citizens need to sit down and formulate something that is beneficial,” said Nodine. “To get back to a point that we should not forget, Semmes has its own identity. It’s family, close-knit, a deep faith in God. I can’t explain it any better than that. What can you say better about a community than that?”
Nodine said he will open a satellite office at the Semmes Community Center Tuesday, Jan. 16. He and his secretary will man the office in Semmes on Tuesdays from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., said Nodine.
“This satellite office will be more convenient for residents who work and live in the area,” said Nodine. “This is something that has been in the works for the last six months, and I am happy to announce that we are ready to open the office.”
The Semmes Community Center is located at 10141 Moffett Rd.
For more information or to schedule an appointment at the Semmes Satellite Office, call 574-2000.
