Ah, so that's how they did it. The Dauphin Island Property Owners Association board's lawyers took a careful look at the key wording in the deed for the 3½ mile stretch of west end beach:
[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].
and declared they had already failed to maintain it forever. As the logic goes, if they've already failed in their responsibility - because they couldn't keep up with the forces of Mother Nature - then the deed cannot be maintained in force.
Or something like that.
Over 100 Dauphin Island property owners attended the meeting and watched as the board voted 7-2 in favor of putting a resolution to the property owners which will transfer 3½ miles of west end beach to the town of Dauphin Island.
If the measure passes the beach will then officially be publicly owned and therefore eligible for public funding. This would include federal grant eligibility and publicly funded projects such as a bond issue which could pay for beach restoration.
The measure will go to Dauphin Island's property owners on March 24th. The election will be held at the clubhouse of the Isle Dauphine golf course. To pass, at least 750 of the Dauphin Property Owners Association's 2,700 members must vote. To pass, 60% of those voting must vote in favor.