So basically, the guy that owns the property where this Sweetwater boondoggle is supposed to go spent $15,000 to get Kyle elected and now the city council has voted to make Kyle the lead negotiator on this property? No, that doesn't stink to high heaven at all. Kyle will give away the farm to get Sweetwater. No telling how much it will cost Decatur. And meanwhile good businesses like Wiley's will get run out of town because of all of the corporate welfare we give to

Kyle's campaign donor. Wake up people! Don't let this corruption ruin this city.

Didn't we have a governor go to jail for this?

William, Kyle tried to get this done the first time he was in office, before he got any donations from his more recent campaign. Sounds like to me he is just trying to finish old business and, in my opinion, it should have been something taken care of back then if the city council would not have gotten in the way. The original deal would have been very beneficial to the city as the jobs and tax revenue would have surpassed the tax breaks and initial cost to the city. If Decatur wants to grow, it has to move in that direction as it is running out of room, or else it runs the risk of becoming stagnant once again.

BTW...guess what newspaper never endorsed Kyle in both of his elections? I find it laughable that they are trying hard to make this into some type of political scandal when if you tried to tie every dollar contributed to a candidate to projects they endorsed after they are elected, it would be harder to find one that has none at all.

Kirby and Jackson knew where the snake was in the deal.

How dare he try to bring 4,000 jobs and millions in annual revenue to our city! Is he trying to improve our town or something? This just burns me up.

Obviously William doesnt shop at Wileys. The prices in there are 1/3 higher than most sporting goods stores I go in. The store is like walking into a ghost town. Ten buck for a box of shotgun shells you can buy at Academy for $6.50. Hope bass pro puts all the gougers out, including the rip you off pawn shops.

no smoking gun here. Hope this project develops.

Go Decatur. I support our leaders and their efforts to build for a better future.

ssdd dd

What a joke of an article.

Fellow posters,

Why would you even waste the time and breath to type complaints about this newspaper. With it's current circulation of just a little over 20,000, their message is not getting very far. I look at this paper for the local news only. My main paper has a daily circulation of a little over 2,100,000. I will not degrade my primary papers name in this forum.

The first question that occurs is: What is the Daily's purpose/motive for this obviously failed attempt at an attack piece? Why is it positioned on the front page, above the fold with four pictures and featured like a major worldwide event? One can only conclude that this is a cannon shot, across the bow, announcing a declaration of war; but on who, or against what? Well obviously it is aimed at the heart of Mayor Kyle, but really attacks his working toward doing what voters put him there to do. The piece uses the previously expended campaign finance report/s like wet ammunition. Virtually every scrap of data in the article was not only previously reported by the Daily, but was gleaned from the required weekly campaign finance reports filed by the then candidate. The people of Decatur spoke in October. Our new Mayor was sworn in a scant four months ago. Since, he has been on a trip to New York to re-finance city bonds; on a trip to Washington DC with other North Alabama Mayors and area government leaders representing Decatur and our wider North Alabama interests at the national government level; advocated and gotten [as promised] the City Council to vote on the issue of re-submitting the city manager/mayor referendum to the Justice Department [as he committed to do]. Also, he has been tasked, by the City Council to deal and negotiate major economic development deals because they know he is competent, effective and trustworthy. Now we get this attack, initiated for his following through on campaign commitments to foster and further business and industry supported area economic development and job growth. Also, he has established a dialogue with the Decatur City Schools and its leaders seeking ways for the city to support their needs and endeavors. Anyone remotely paying attention can see he is vigorously working on behalf of Decatur. He’s working to support education needs, foster economic, business and jobs growth; and, governing with an objective of growing the population hence tax [sales and property] revenue base. Also noteworthy: Our Mayor’s calm demeanor and pensive, deliberate, thoughtful and professional business-like approach projects a positive image of Decatur that we have not seen in his office since he left office in 2008. He is a credit to Decatur and its citizens. It is also most encouraging that the bulk of this tread of comments show readers recognize the Daily’s angle and/or overwhelmingly express their support of this man working on behalf of all of our us. We thank you Mayor Kyle for the breath of fresh air.

As long as PAC money flows, politicians will always be "caught in the middle" of these kind of deals. Its how business operates, and its legal. It is 4,000 jobs, and it is lots of tax revenue. And yes, money will be exchanged and lots of insiders will be smiling all the way to the bank. Mayor Kyle will be the hero to some, and a villan to others....okay whats next on the agenda!

The Daily is truly written and published by amateurs. No point to this article

The farm is exactly where Sweetwater will be built.

This project will make going to Huntsville shopping obsolete. I personally believe the Sweetwater project once completed will put Decatur on an economic path to success never before experienced.

As for Wiley's: If Wiley's has not already closed from the competition that Academy Sports has given them, Wiley's will certainly be fine with the coming of Bass Pro Shop.

Go Kyle go.

Everybody that's anybody knows the only real good the DD is, is for bird cages and packing fodder. You go Mayor Kyle!!

Decatur needs this!!

Pretty good posts until you get to John W. Some people just cannot put their jealousy of Huntsville aside. People will continue to shop in Huntsville. Hopefully this developmennt will be a second option.

All of the posts for "Go Kyle" is crazy as Kyle must remember not to bite the hand (Frazier) that gave him money to get elected.

Decatur and Alabama politics make Chicago politics like a group of Sunday School teachers.

DD...so what???

BASSPRO wants city paid benefits and corporate welfare. I say if they don't want to come here without Decatur citizens giving them everything but the kitchen sink, then let them go somewhere else. This will hurt the rest of Decatur. This will not stop the bleed of sales to Huntsville. It will just kill other Decatur businesses. Also, since Kyle can't afford the embarrassment of botching BASSPRO a second time and because he took fifteen thousand dollars from Frazier. Don't you think Frazier will be mad if he doesn't get what he paid for. Frazier also has the money lender places on 6th avenue. Don't expect Kyle to do anything about cleaning that up now either. There is a reason Don Stanford didn't pursue BASSPRO. He had smart people telling him not to give away everything. Don Kyle won't listen to the smart people.

Sam Frazier's family has been a part of the Decatur business community for the past 75 or 80 years. I knew his daddy and momma really well and they were honest hardworking business people. Sam went to school here and he is an honest person. That is valuable property over there. Decatur will definitely come out ahead on this deal if it comes to fruition.

Yes. Frazier cares so much for Decatur he annexed a bunch of his land into Madison. He cares about money.

this is the way politics works. the daily could take every candidate and see suspicious dontations. the list would be a mile long.

With Cullman getting the Bass Hall of Fame, how much will this help getting Bass to finally come here?

BassPro won't go to cullman. According to their own words, cullman is too close to their prattville store. Only about 8 exits off of 65 qualify. Really only one meets all their internal requirements. Decatur actually has a huge negotiating advantage, but we will waste it by all if this clamoring to give whatever bass pro wants for minimum wage jobs.