Wrote me one

Mr. Ben the poacher

When it was leased for bow hunting only 7 years ago, it went for $17/acre and was entirely leased in 5 days

I didn't think it ever closed on the lease then....

Yes it closed, refunds had to be distributed

Ummm, I dont know. Maybe because the lease was not open to public bid and some rich politically connected dude just happened to pick the lease up at a 600-700% discount from the going rate per acre in that area??? FMV for something like that with its history, wildlife, and location is $17-$20/acre, maybe more. And yes, that would be the bow only rate for a property like that, just minutes outside of Birmingham. $3/acre lease price is not even in the realm of reality and they didnt even bother to try to cover up the crookedness of it all. Heck, the deal would've still stunk to high heaven, reaked of an 'insider"/back room deal, and raised a ton of questions had they leased it for $10/acre.

Do you guys have a law or rule you can cite that says this had to be put up for open bidding? Or that they had to take bids? Evidence that they simply were not approached by the guy about leasing and accepted it?

I've never seen a major city, school or public utility that was not governed by their written by-laws and or operational rules and guidelines regarding procurement and sales from and to the general public. Generally those by-laws and operational guidelines are writtten to specifically require that all transactions with the general public, related procurement of services or to the sale and/or leasing of corporately owned assets (land, buildings, equipment, etc) require that formal notice be posted in some manner, at least a minimum number of qualified bids (meeting outlined requirements and received under the noticed guidelines) and that all tranactions consummated by the entity be "arm's length' in nature and at a rate approximating fair market value. Corrupt in regard to a prosecutable criminal statute? Probably not. General corruptness and back room dealing in appearance? Definitely. Something that could get a water works employee fired for it if he was not high enough up in management to be in the "protected class" or did the deal without executive management approval, absolutely. Happens all the time

No but if you can get me in touch with the right person, I’ll give them $4 an acre. You probably can’t though because it’s all back room deals and the good ole boy system.

I know all farm rent on publicly owned ground has to go to bid. So why wouldn’t hunting rights?

You know what they say about assuming.

I will go $10 an acre

If it’s publicly owned land or the Bham water works receives any tax payer money then it should have been bid out. Does anybody know if it is public owned land or if they do receive tax payer funds?

Her concern is that they might be shooting those automatic assault bows.

I know there is a state law that municipal contracts over a certain amount have to be bid out, but I have no idea if a land lease would be considered a contract.

just talked to an ex-employee that told me BWW is under the bid law....interesting....

I have never heard of a governmental entity in any state that is not under a bid law.

Troy, knowing B'ham and how things are done, are you honestly surprised by that? I knew the answer before I wrote what I did. My brother and some of his financially well connected buddies that all live in B'ham would have loved to have been able to bid on that property and asked around when they first heard about it. They were told the same thing. Nothing will happen about it unless the neighbors raise enough stink to force BWW to withdraw/cancel the lease and refund the money like they did the first go around. $3/acre is a hell of deal for that property.

Only if the cost is under a certain amount. It was $750 back when i was involved in that stuff if I remember correctly. If someone was willing to do the work for $750 or less, no more bids were required.

I want in on it if one of you goobers get it!

Locals.....Check out the rub on the on ramp from 280 to 459. 50-75 yards from 280. Was reading this at the red light