By By Janet Little Cooper
The City of Atmore and Flomaton were recently presented with the Norman J. Walton Award from the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission.
The award, which is typically given to one local government, recognizes a local member government that has best exemplified intergovernmental cooperation and has promoted regionalism in South Alabama during the previous year.
On Jan. 14, 2006 at the Annual SARPC banquet, Mayor Howard Shell and Mayor Dewey Bondurant accepted the awards for their respective cities.
Both cities were recognized due to the mutual aid agreement made between the City of Atmore and Flomaton for hurricane debris pick up following Hurricane Dennis on July 10, 2005.
The Atmore City Council, FEMA and the Corps of Engineers approved the agreement. Because of the mutual aid agreement, Flomaton had the same debris removal services provided to the City of Atmore under Atmore's contract with Crowder Gulf.
Both cities benefited from the agreement, which did not incur any additional expense for the City of Atmore.
Criteria considered for determining the winner of the annual award are problem solving, intergovernmental coordination, innovation, benefit to regional quality of life and cost effectiveness.
The SARPC is a multi-faceted agency offering services such as grant writing, community planning and environmental planning consultation services. The Commission membership includes mayors and commissioners from Escambia, Mobile, and Baldwin Counties, as well as private citizens appointed by member governments. City council members and state legislators also attend.
The annual Strategic Planning Session is an opportunity for the Commission to let elected officials know what services the Commission offers and find out how it can better serve member governments, to address member government needs, and offer information on new programs and opportunities that may be of benefit to member governments.