Riley sends 'mound' concerns to state historical commission
Jul 22, 2009 | 4525 views | 33 
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Oxford's City Project Manager Fred Denny stands on top of Signal Mountain behind the Oxford Exchange. Photo: Jay Reeves/Associated Press
Riley sent a letter on July 13 to Judith Richards Shubert of North Richland Hills, Texas. Shubert writes a blog called "Genealogy Traces" and became concerned about the issue when fellow bloggers highlighted it.
The city is destroying the hill underneath the American Indian mound to use as fill dirt for a Sam's Club nearby. The mound could be 1,000 years old or older, and some preservation officials are concerned it could contain human remains or burial artifacts. A University of Alabama report on the mound found no evidence of such remains, but recommended the city keep an expert on hand in case funerary artifacts are found.
Riley told Shubert he appreciated her e-mail and said he forwarded it to Frank White, executive director of the Alabama Historical Commission.
While the commission has concerns about the site and recommended the city leave the site alone, officials do not think state laws governing excavations apply to lands not owned by the state.
"I am confident Mr. White and his staff will evaluate your concerns and take any appropriate available action," Riley wrote.
Todd Stacy, a spokesman for Riley, said the governor believes there is nothing the state can do to save the structure.
"If the state doesn't have jurisdiction, then it's up for the local folks to decide," he said.
City officials told the Associated Press they intend to eventually replace the top of the hill containing the mound with space for commercial development.
Mayor Leon Smith told an AP reporter the rocks were left on top of the mountain by erosion, a claim disputed by preservation officials and a report commissioned by the city. The city also allowed an AP photographer onto the site last week with Smith's permission. The city has denied requests by The Star to visit the site. City Project Manager Fred Denney, who spoke to the AP reporter and is featured in the pictures, declined to comment for this story. Attempts by The Star to reach Smith for this story were unsuccessful.
The AP photos show a scene dramatically different from the one shown in pictures Johnny Rollins of Heflin took in May before demolition crews reached the site. The site, once shaded by trees, is shown virtually stripped of vegetation.
Shubert said the governor's response to the issue satisfied her.
"I was pleased to actually receive the letter from the office of Bob Riley, governor of Alabama, and felt my words had been heard," she said. "I really had not expected that much."
August 4, 2009, Gov. Riley promoted the Sales Tax Holiday weekend at a BEST BUY in Huntsville instead of a Wal-Mart or a Sam's Club.
See the Governor's press releases at http://governor.alabama.gov/news/list.aspx?type=pr.
No matter, the feds are tasked with protecting and preserving prehistoric sites even if the state won't. Voice complaints to federal agencies, Congress and even the White House, if you choose.
Anwswer: I believe that in Feb. 2003, the City of Oxford and the Oxford Water Works bought it for $10 million out of their fund balance. You have to realize that Oxford has a huge fund balance(as of Sept. 30,2007 it was $97 million) that can be use to fund basically any project that they want to do.
April 15, 2009, to urge state legislators to debate and pass his proposed rewrite of Alabama's ethics law, Riley posed and spoke before media cameras to demonstrate what types of items were available for purchase at a Sam's Club in Montgomery that could be used to bribe public officials.
February 14, 2008, Riley made an appearance at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in Hoover, AL during a promotional tour, regarding the elimination of state income taxes on federal stimulus package checks. Other appearances at Wal-Marts in the state were made on this "tour".
December 14, 2007, Riley volunteered as a Salvation Army bell ringer outside of a Sam’s Club in Montgomery, AL.
December 21, 2006, Riley greeted customers as they entered a Sam's Club in Montgomery, AL, in support of the Salvation Army.
August 2006, Riley kicked off the state's Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday at Wal-Mart SuperCenter #604 in Dothan, AL.
March 9, 2006, Riley stopped at the parking lot of a former Wal-Mart store in Cullman, AL during his promotional bus tour for tax cuts.
December 21, 2005, Riley helped The Salvation Army by ringing the bell and tending the kettle in front of Sam’s Club in Montgomery, AL.
From http://www.governorpress.alabama.gov/pr/pr-2005-10-13-02-roadimpcullman.asp
October 13, 2005 Office of the Governor, State of Alabama Press Release
"Governor Riley Announces Road Improvements to Bring New Jobs to Cullman County
"...eight new and expanding companies including Wal-Mart Distribution Center..."
From http://www.conservation.alabama.gov/news/release.cfm?ID=265
March 17, 2005
"Wal-Mart Executive Wins Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt
"Wal-Mart executive Mitch Jones won the fourth annual Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, held March 14-16 in Montgomery. Governor Bob Riley hosted the celebrity event..."
May 4, 2004, Riley awarded a $48,300 grant to a Dempolis poultry plant in Marengo County for the 42 workers to receive training to increase productivity and efficiency. The plant produces corndogs for Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, plus 2 grocers and 2 food distribution companies.
From http://www.outdooralabama.com/news/release.cfm?ID=124
March 22, 2004
"Wal-Mart Executive Wins Governor's One-Shot Turkey Hunt
"Wal-Mart executive Bob Hart won the third annual Alabama Governor’s One-Shot Turkey Hunt, held March 15-17 in Tuscaloosa. Governor Bob Riley hosted the celebrity event, which assembled top corporate leaders, industry prospects, sports celebrities, and national outdoor media celebrities. Sponsored by the Alabama Conservation and Natural Resources Foundation, the hunt is an exciting event filled with food, fellowship, and friendly competition against the background of Alabama’s great outdoors.
"Hart was one of 74 hunters from 15 states to participate in this year’s event. Among the business leaders and celebrities were Wal-Mart President Tom Coughlin ..."
Star, I also want to know how much stock Gov. Riley and Mayor Smith own in Sam's Club and Walmart, and anything else you can uncover about their personal finances and business dealings with Sam's together on the Oxford Mound per The Code of Alabama, Ethics for Public Officials, Employees, Etc. in Title 36, Chapter 25.
Re: Gov. Riley - ""Wasn't he and Leon that was in a "secret" meeting here in Oxford about a year ago?""
Can you get the info on this meeting, date, etc., and post it here? I also just saw somewhere in one of these articles that Oxford paid $10 million for the land with the mound - is that the going rate for our ancestors in the State of Alabama? How much would the state take for something like Edgemont Cemetery? There's going to be a paper trail.
Questions:
1. Did Gov. Riley approve for the Alabama Historical Commission to grant Smith a permit to excavate the Oxford mound for Sam's to build in Oxford?
2. Where did Oxford get the $10 mil for this project? Any come from federal funding for economic development? This is a biggie. Did the state give Oxford money toward the project and if so, did some of that state money come from federal funding?
3. Did Sam's front this money to Oxford or is Sam's going to pay back Oxford?
Anniston Star, can you please allow one of your fine investigative reporters to do a little extra work on this for us, please? Thank you. You've been doing real good but ya'll can go places we individuals can't.
The link to the Facebook protest group is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=118679542703
Alabama Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
M. Barnett Lawley, Commissioner of Conservation
64 N. Union Street
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
(334) 242-3486
Found on webpage for Summary of Environmental Legislation Affecting Transportation, http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/env_sum.htm#amerantq, is the ONLY federal law not restricted to federal and tribal lands and would cover Oxford:
American Indian Religious Freedom Act:
Legislative Reference: 42 U.S.C. 1996
(P.L. 95-341) [read it at http://www.blm.gov/heritage/docum/78airfa.pdf]
Regulations Reference: Executive Order No. 13007 [read it at http://www.achp.gov/EO13007.html]
Purpose: Protect places of religious importance to American Indians, Eskimos, and Native Hawaiians.
Applicability: All projects which affect places of religious importance to Native Americans.
General Procedures: Consult with knowledgeable sources to identify and determine any effects on places of religious importance.
Comply with Section 106 procedures if the property is historic.
Agency for Coordination and Consultation: BIA State Historic Preservation Officer State Indian Liaison Advisory Council on Historic Preservation if appropriate
The closest I can find to a BIA state historic preservation officer is the BIA regional office. The Alabama Indian Affairs Commission does not list any such position but the website claims:
"AIAC is placed in a liaison/advocacy role between the various departments of governments and the Indian people of our tribal communities. AIAC stands alone to represent the Indian people of Alabama who wish to stand together with their fellow citizens while maintaining their own cultural and ethnic heritage."
Alabama Indian Affairs Commission
771 South Lawrence Street
Suite 106
Montgomery, AL 36130
(334) 242-2831
Fax: (334) 240-3408
E-Mail: aiac@att.net
Commission Chairperson C. Scott Sanders, email
osahwv@charter.net
Executive Director Eloise P. Josey
Planning and Economic Development Benjamin Moreira
Alabama Historical Commission
Attention: Frank White, Executive Director
468 South Perry Street
P. O. Box 300900
Montgomery, AL 36130-0900
telephone 334-230-2690
The Alabama Historical Commission receives funds from the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior for identification and protection of historic properties.
National Park Service Headquarters
Attention: Dan Wenk, (Acting) Director of the National Park Service
1849 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20240
telephone 202-208-6843
National Park Service
Southeast Region
Attention: David Vela, Regional Director
100 Alabama St. SW
1924 Building
Atlanta, GA 30303
telephone 404-507-5603
U.S. Department of the Interior
The Honorable Ken Salazar, Secretary
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240
Telephone 202-208-3100
E-Mail feedback@ios.doi.gov
The Bureau of Indian Affairs serves in the capacity as a "Branch of Natural Resources" and
"Administers the processes federal agencies must follow under environmental and cultural resources laws. ... Provides ... technical assistance in environmental and cultural resources compliance procedures. Reviews and drafts comments on proposed actions by other federal agencies that might affect Indian lands ... Issues and administers federal permits for the excavation of archeological resources or Indian burials on Indian lands. Serves as regional liaison to other governmental agencies. Manage compliance issues with respect to environmental and cultural resources laws ..."
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Telephone 202-208-3710
Email webteam@ios.doi.gov or webmaster@bia.gov
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Attention: Mike Smith, Deputy Bureau Director
Field Operations
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Telephone 202-208-5116
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Eastern Regional Office
Attention: Franklin Keel, Regional Director
545 Marriott Drive, Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37214
Telephone 615-564-6500
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs
Eastern Regional Office
Attention: Robert Impson, Deputy Regional Director, Trust Services
545 Marriott Drive, Suite 700
Nashville, TN 37214
Telephone 615-564-6500
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Please! and thanks!
Alabama Ethics Commmistion
Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 4840
Montgomery, AL 36103-4840
Phone: 334.242.2997
Fax: 334.242.0248
E-Mail: info@ethics.alabama.gov
Mayor Leon Smith
145 Hamric Drive, East
P.O. Box 3383
Oxford, Alabama, 36203
Email address:::cityhall@oxfordalabama.org.
Phone number:::256-831-7510
Alabama Historical Commission
Frank White
468 South Perry Street
P. O. Box 300900
Montgomery, AL 36130-0900
334-230-2690
Governor Riley (I know he doesn't want to get involved but write & call anyway because the mayor of Oxford has disgraced the state with his comments in that AP article)
State Capitol
600 Dexter Avenue
Montgomery, Alabama 36130
Switchboard:(334) 242-7100
Fax: (334) 353-0004
Don't give up!
cityhall@oxfordalabama.org
Phone number:::256-831-7510