We'll be watching this one closely. Recent word that this Saturday's Dauphin Island Property Owners Association meeting will be largely about transferring ownership of the west end beach to the Town of Dauphin Island is a curiosity.
Last October it came to light that the Dauphin Island Property Owners were caught in a legal conundrum by the original deed for all properties held by the DIPOA.
The deed says the DIPOA properties, including the west end beach must be...
kept by the association and maintained forever as a recreational area for the exclusive use and enjoyment of those persons who shall be and remain members of [the DIPOA].
Now it appears the DIPOA board has been working with legal advisors to find a way around this wording. Tomorrow's meeting promises to unveil the secret to exactly how they'll get around it.
One thing for certain, there is bound to be disagreement among west end property owners. Many don't want to see their private beaches become town property. But deeding the beaches over to the town would pave the way for federally funded financing for Dauphin Island's west end beaches. As privately held property, the west end beach on Dauphin Island is ineligible for any federal aid.
DI property owners to discuss giving town beach property
In an effort to make Dauphin Island's eroding private shoreline eligible for federal beach restoration funds, the property owners association board plans to consider a measure Saturday to hand over 3½ miles of west end beach to the town of Dauphin Island.
It was unclear Thursday whether or how the association has solved the legal quandary presented by the wording of each property's 50-year-old deed, which last year stopped the board from making the beach public.
"The board has obtained legal advice, and as a result we put this matter on Saturday's agenda," said John Reed, board president. He would not comment further. The association is a private nonprofit and is not bound by state or federal laws requiring disclosure.