January 9, 2010

Governor Bob Riley
State Capital
600 Dexter Ave.
Montgomery, Al 36104

Mr. David Barber
Supernumerary District Attorney
8420 Will Keith Rd.
Trussville, Al 35173

Gentlemen,

On behalf of the citizens of Dothan, Houston County, the Wiregrass and Southeast Alabama, we would like to appeal to you to allow the issue of Country Crossing to be addressed in a civil manner.

As you are aware, legal proceedings are underway that will provide a civil, thorough and deliberative review of the legality of the operation of Country Crossing. The process will be in accordance with legal proceedings as established by the laws of the State of Alabama. Our community wants to work with your office and state law enforcement in a civil manner to determine that the operation is legal as we believe or illegal as you believe. We believe this would be the civil way to address this issue that has created so much passion on both sides without putting hundreds of Alabama citizens in the unemployment line.

Attached you will find over fifty names of elected officials, business and community leaders who are citizens of the Wiregrass and the State of Alabama. They are not all in favor of Country Crossing but they are all in favor of Houston County and the State remedying the issue in a civil manner. Our community doesn’t have “rampant public corruption and crime” as your office has stated. We represent some of the best people in the world who are God fearing, honest hard working citizens who are trying to make it through tough economic times. Governor, you have even stated on several occasions that Houston County is one of the best areas of the State and we agree with that evaluation. Hopefully you will see fit to work together and reach an end to this black eye that this dispute has placed on our area and the State.

Thank you for your consideration and any positive leadership to end this confrontation.

Sincerely,

Mark Culver Mike Schmitz Matt Parker
Chairman Mayor President
Houston County Commission City of Dothan Dothan Chamber of Commerce