2009-2010 Annual Report - Alabama Department of Conservation ...

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26 Board of Adjustment Claims that were filed against the
State Parks Division. The section staff represented the State
Parks Division at Board of Adjustment hearings and testified
concerning this claims before the Board.
Section staff manages a division-wide personal property
inventory, in cooperation with the Departmental Property
Inventory Section, of 5,444 inventory items valued at
$14,892,073. Section staff provides daily management of the
personal property inventory system and processed all additions
and deletions to the system.
Section staff manages the property insurance program for the
division and processed 20 claims during the year. Continual
review of insurance coverage is ongoing by the staff to insure
that adequate coverage is maintained on 831 state parks
structures.
Section staff manages the ongoing State Parks Inspection
Program, which provides inspection checklists, schedules,
responsibilities, and record keeping guidelines. This program
ensures all levels of management are looking at the important
elements of our mission and provides continuity between the
various levels of supervision.
The section enrolled in the federal government’s 1033 Program,
which provides surplus federal property to law enforcement
agencies to utilize in accomplishing their mission. Under
this program the State Parks Division received emergency
generators, a bucket truck and a number of weapons.
An RFP was issued by the Division for an energy reduction
program. After a through review and extensive vendor
demonstration presentations, Johnson Controls was selected
as the contractor for our program. The contractor identified
numerous projects that will be pursued throughout the parks
system. The contract has been signed and is currently in the
legislative review process.
The Division was awarded a grant by the Alabama Department
of Environmental Management for $84,439.80 that was
funded by their scrap tire disposal program. The grant will
fund numerous projects throughout the parks system utilizing
recycled tire products.
During this year a Dog Friendly Policy was established, which
allows specific parks to designate a select number of lodge
rooms and cabins in the parks system as dog friendly.
The Division is expanding its equestrian trails program with trail
and campground developments at Oak Mountain, Cheaha, Lake
Guntersville and Wind Creek State Parks.
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The MEGASYS Property Management System is operational in
nine parks (Joe Wheeler, Monte Sano, DeSoto, Lake Guntersville
and Gulf State Parks). The networking group ATN has installed
Wi-Fi in the campgrounds at Gulf and Wind Creek State Parks.
Cheaha and Joe Wheeler State Parks campgrounds will be set up
with Wi-Fi in the near future.
The State Parks Operations and Maintenance Section Staff
worked on the following projects in 2010:
n Buck’s Pocket State Park:
• All park roadways were repaved. The bathhouse was
renovated and modernized. A new fishing pier was installed
at Morgan’s Cove day use area.
n DeSoto State Park:
• The rear parking lot at the lodge was enlarged and paved.
n Florala State Park:
• An amphitheater with concrete bleachers seating and a
stage was installed on the lake shore. Also the large older
community building, manger’s house and maintenance
building was razed and a multi-use community building was
built on the site. The smaller community club building was
relocated to a city location.
n Frank Jackson State Park:
• A new walking trail connecting the campground with the
beach and day use area was completed. The trail includes a
lengthy elevated walkway across a natural marsh area. The
parking lots at the beach and the accessible fishing area were
enlarged and paved.
n Gulf State Park:
• The new pool complex in the campground was completed
and opened. The new campground registration building,
laundry, country store and nature center were also completed
and opened for business.
n Lake Guntersville State Park:
• The transient dock at the beach/boat ramp area was repaired
and enlarged. The parking lot at the golf course was repaved.
Parking areas at chalets and cabins was enlarged and repaved.
A chalet (408) that was destroyed by fire in 2009 was rebuilt.
State Parks
Sections
The division continued to
operate and maintain 22
state parks serving more
than 3 million guests
annually on a constantly
decreasing operational
budget. Lack of sufficient
funds for total renovation
and repair of aging facilities
and replacement of worn out
equipment as well as basic
operational needs is the
major problem for
State Parks.
State Parks Division
ALDCNR 09-10 Annual Report 37