CULLMAN – State Rep. Randall Shedd, R-Fairview today released the following letter to his constituents.
My legislation to address the situation at Cullman Memory Gardens passed this week and awaits the Governor’s signature to become law. This is the beginning to give relief to the families of those resting there.
I lowered the original legislation to correct some of the concerns I heard at the public hearing and calls after the advertising. That is the purpose of public hearings.
I believe we have a way worked out with this legislation for Cullman Memory Gardens to become locally owned by a nonprofit without any cost to the taxpayers. That is my goal.
One thing I fundamentally disagree with some people on is this is not “bailing out” a business. I heard this same argument in the 1980s when I was chairman of the County Commission when we purchased the building and 20 acres at Holly Pond from Holly Manufacturing after they closed.
Some people told me we’d have to sell it for scrap. We took that building and land and turned it into the Lee Company with 500 jobs and substantial new investment by the company that provided good jobs and economic development in the Holly Pond area for about 25 years. And, the County got all of its money back plus interest.
The late Mayor Dane Estes said it was the county’s first “spec” building.
What if I had given in to those who opposed me then? We would have missed 25 years of good jobs in Holly Pond and all of the economic development that went with it and the future jobs coming to come to Holly Pond in place of the Lee Company.
So, sometimes people don’t understand all that’s involved. And then, sometimes all the whooping and hollering is organized political rhetoric for political gain and loss of certain politicians. That was the case at Holly Pond and that was the case recently when I proposed my cemetery legislation to solve the Cullman Memory Gardens problem.
The business (owners of Cullman Memory Gardens) already (got) “bailed out” in bankruptcy, not with my legislation. And, two different sets of owners made off with millions of dollars. Fraud would be my description.
So, now we have in place a mechanism to acquire Cullman Memory Gardens locally, organize a nonprofit that can own and operate Cullman Memory Gardens. It won’t happen immediately, but it will happen.
Most importantly, the families of those resting at Cullman Memory Gardens can have peace knowing families can be buried together, final resting places can be visited without any concern and the entire property will be returned to the dignity and peaceful place their loved ones thought they would get when they made their purchase.
Everyone, including the men and women who fought for our country now resting at Cullman Memory Gardens, will be honored with a dignified final resting place.
I respect the opinions of those who disagree with me on this issue. But, I must say, I feel good about my decision.
Sincerely,
Randall Shedd
District 11, Alabama
House of Representative
1461 Welcome Road
Cullman, AL 35058
256.531.6641 Cell & Text
randallshedd@icloud.com
Related: http://cullmansense.com/articles/2016/02/20/memory-gardens-meeting-draws-big-crowd-city-hall
