Mobile River Road plan presented

The new Mobile River road plan will be open for public comment today from the Mobile Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).  MPO is comprised of local elected officials and engineers and approves all federal road funding in the Mobile AL area.  The road plan in question is referred to as the Long Range Transportation Plan which will stretch over a 25 year period and includes various projects estimated to cost $750 million.  Some of the named projects include a new Mobile River crossing, the widening of Snow Road from Jeff Hamilton Road to U.S. 98 in order to make a new bypass west of Schillinger Road, and widening Alabama Highway 193 from Hamilton Boulevard to a little north of Fowl River.  Mobile AL community members will be able to attend the hearing from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. today at the GM&O Building in downtown Mobile to learn more about the road plan and voice their opinions.

For more on other projects that the MPO are planning visit their website at mobilempo.org.

And for all your Mobile AL real estate endeavors contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

In a recent report from the Press Register, Daphne Utilities will need to invest an annual amount of $3 million in its infrastructure over the next three years to meet the growing demands of new customers.  In an effort to pay for this maintenance and the necessary upgrades, the utilities’ board may consider raising rates this year; expected increases include approximately 2 percent for water and 10 percent on sewer.

Some of the projects that have been mentioned thus far for Daphne Utilities in the next three years include an upgrade to solid waste processing that will reduce or completely eliminate odors, the installation of a new screening system, and the installation of new pumps and holding tanks.

The number of customers served by the system has grown by 25 percent in the past six years, making these upgrades a necessary solution to continue to support the current customers as well as those anticipated in the coming years.

For more information on real estate in Daphne AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

Mobile AL’s Berg Spiral Pipe Corp.’s parent company Europipe GmbH has won a some $920 million contract (650 million euro) to supply pipe for a large project in Europe.  The project would involve supplying pipe for the construction of a second line of the Nord Stream natural gas pipeline stretching from Russia to Germany.  The ordered 1 million metric tons of pipe will be needed for the beginning of constructed expected this spring starting under the Baltic Sea.

Europipe has a partnership between German steelmakers Salzgitter AG and Dillinger Hutte, and in 2008 Europipe opened a $96 million Berg mill north of downtown Mobile in Plateau.

For more information on this story visit the Press Register online.

For more information on real estate in Mobile or West Mobile AL contact Barbara Reeves today.

At the north Mobile County ThyssenKrup steel complex, the start of production is growing very near.  for this $4.65 billion steel complex in Calvert, the first slabs for the mill have been on their way from Germany and excepted to arrive by February 15th.  American steel mills on the whole have run at about 65 percent capacity during the second week of January, which is better than the utilization rate at the depths of the market last year, but the Mobile steel mill plans on avoiding producing more than the current market needs.  The German steelmaker did a major reorganization partially to control expenses so that past losses from cost overruns will be less likely.  The Mobile AL steel mill employs approximately 5,000 construction workers and continues to be an exciting addition to the area’s economy.

For more information on ThyssenKrupp in Mobile AL visit the Press Register online.

And for all your Mobile AL real estate endeavors keep local realtor Barbara Reeves in mind.

According to a recent Baldwin County News article, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami will be issuing watches and warnings for storms earlier than ever before.  With advancements in track forecasts, a greater lead time for costal storms is made possible starting this year; the estimated new lead time for watches and warnings will be issued 12 additional hours earlier than in previous years, making it possible for residents to prepare for what may be coming.

For more on the NHC’s new technology in watching tropical storms, visit Baldwin County Now.

For more information on buying or selling property in Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, or Spanish Fort AL, contact your local, knowledgeable realtor Barbara Reeves.

Get ready for the 2010 Mardi Gras Season in Mobile AL

The Mardi Gras season is coming for Mobile AL this new year.  The 2010 Carnival season will kick off with Krewe De La Dauphine’s parade in Dauphin Island AL on January 16 with the theme being “Games Children Play.”

This celebration in the Gulf Coast was first observed in Mobile AL in 1703 and has been a fabulous tradition ever since, marked by great regional treats and parades.  More activities are scheduled all across Mobile and Baldwin counties with new parade themes and celebrations.  Keep checking back at AL.com for more information on Mardi Gras activities this year.

For more information on property in Alabama’s Gulf coast, including Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Daphne, and Spanish Fort, contact your friendly local agent Barbara Reeves today.

There will be a few new changes to the beach policies in Alabama’s Gulf Coast area for 2010.  These new policies include moving forward with the addition of more lifeguards and widening the area along the coast that they will patrol.  The key concerns for 2010 are improving beach operations through more focus on safety and cleanliness.  City officials also put forth a series of new beach policies that would regulate the use of personal watercrafts and limit where tents and heavy beach chairs can be positioned on the coast.

For more on beach policies in Alabama’s Gulf Coast region, visit Press Register online.

For more on available property in Gulf Coast AL, including  Mobile, West Mobile, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

The Orange Beach AL contest “Light up Orange Beach” will be held on December 21st this year.  The contest features two classifications to enter, one being residential and the other being commercial, condominium, and businesses.  There will be winners selected for each category with cash prizes for first, second and third place for residential and a first place award and certificate of merit for the commercial, condominium, and business category.  This annual contest will take place at the Orange Beach Garden Club and be judged in the evening of December 21st by members of the Garden Club; judges will consider overall appearance, creative use of decorations, condition of lighting and inflatable blow-ups, and effective use of space.

For information on how to enter the “Light up Orange Beach” contest visit the Press Register online.

For more information on real estate in Gulf Coast AL, including Mobile, West Mobile, Daphne, Fairhope, and Spanish Fort AL contact your local realtor Barbara Reeves today.

A recent City Council meeting unanimously approved a new budget for 2010 in Gulf Shores AL that is expected to reserve $1 million in funds.  For this 2010 budget, a reasonable increase in revenue is also anticipated and more control on expenses.  Also information about 2009 city revenue was given which showed revenues at about $24.6 million so far, which is higher than the predicted $23.5 million.  City officials hope that this coming year’s budget will pan out as expected allowing increased efficiency and less spending on the day-to-day costs.

For more information on economic conditions in Gulf Coast AL, visit Al.com.

For more information on real estate in Gulf Coast AL contact your friendly local agent Barbara Reeves today.

Baldwin County AL Libraries Rank Highest in Country

In a new study conducted by the Library Journal, Baldwin County AL’s beaches have some of the best libraries nationwide.  Orange Beach library has earned its place at the top of the list with the magazine’s highest grade on record; just below Orange Beach is Gulf Shore AL’s Thomas B. Norton Public Library which appeared one notch under the highest rating.  The magazine features a brief write up on why these libraries scored so high with their study’s criteria including visits, circulation, program attendance, and public internet use.  The director of the Gulf Shores library, Wendy Congiardo reported that the draw of tourists to the beach areas also draws them to public libraries.  It can also be considered that the focus on community in these areas makes them top libraries for residents.

For more on what makes Baldwin County AL libraries top in the country, visit AL.com.

For more information on real estate in Baldwin County AL including Fairhope, Spanish Fort, and Daphne AL contact your local agent Barbara Reeves today.