Name:   Talullahhound - Subject:   Wikers Point? Date:   2/12/2020 4:02:21 PM

There is a plan, but it has not be publicly addressed, other than to hire a tourism director and say that the focus will be on tourism.  I think part of the problem is that Alex City is not transparent enough about their intentions.  If they went public, I think the citizens would see that they are trying.  I have nothing against the local officials, but when someone proposed doing away with the mayor, et al and hiring a city manager, I thought that made a lot of sense.  Hire someone with qualifications to go after business and turn it around.  They keep hiring people to do studies - but the answer is always the same - not enough people with money to open franchises and the demographics stink as far as selling it as a thriving business community.  I personally have my doubts about the tourism focus - I just don't see the Lake as a big tourist destination, no matter how many golf courses, pools and boat rental places.  And I am afraid they will ruin the lake, without much gain for Alex City.  

On the other hand, the people in Alex City have blinders on, thinking there is going to be some kind of manufacturing enterprise to come and bail them out.  Manufacturing is just a non-starter.  They had the mayor of Huntsville come and give them a talk, but the truth is that Huntsville has the Space industry and the millitary aviation and missile business to keep them going, and their suburbs going.  So I'm not sure why they thought that would be interesting.  

Only Mayor Nabors (rest his soul) knows the reason why they went into debt for the "town hall" or what deals were made for that to happen and who they benefitted.  

Main Street has a lot of enthusiasm and they are trying their best to make nothing into something - unfortunately - it seems that the majority of people in Alex City are satisfied to shop at Walmart and Dollar General.  Even the best management can't make people buy when they don't have the money to buy in small shops, and most people at the Lake live somewhere else and will shop there.  

I feel bad for Dadeville.  If that video is what they submitted to HGTV, I doubt it will be enough for them to get picked.  But if they did, it woud probably be great for the city - and that might bring in some tourists - at least for a little while.