BY SHERRY LYNN GROS MARCH 17, 2025
FOR PULIC RELEASE
Mobile, Alabama
BEGORAH! The Luck O’ the Irish was with us tonight as we landed an exclusive interview with Chief Paul Prine on the hot-topic issue of the permanent closure of Big Creek Lake in Mobile Alabama. The closure was announced on February 5, 2025 by Mobile Area Water & Sewer Board of Commissioners. The announcement stunned thousands of residents and much work is being done by concerned Mobilians to do something to reverse this decision post haste.
The following text is an excerpt of an interview, March 17, 2025, by Sherry Gros for The Highland Park Review from the PRINE FOR MAYOR Facebook page.
Interviewer: Hi Paul, Sherry Gros for the Highland Park Review can you answer our questions regarding your position on the Big Creek Lake closure? As you know the board at MAWSS voted to allow for annexation of the Lake to the City so this puts the issue square on your plate if you become mayor. For THE HIGHLAND PARK REVIEW (our local citizen freelance journal), 1. What is your stance on the closing of Big Creek Lake, as you know Mobile Area Water & Sewer System (MAWSS) is blockading public access to the launch and surrounding Alabama public waters? 2. If you are elected as Mayor will you work to make sure the people in Mobile County will once again use their lake as they have been doing for generations? 3. If you become Mayor will you open Big Creek Lake to the public? Thank you for taking the time to answer this very important question looming over thousands of people in Mobile City and County.
Mobile Mayoral Candidate, Chief Paul Prine: “Hi Sherry. Those are questions that are complicated, but I will share what I know and what I would or could do. 1. My understanding of why the lake was closed was primarily due to two types of bacteria or invasive species. It makes no sense as those issues could be dealt with in my opinion without closing the lake permanently. The Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners of the Mobile Area Water Sewer System (MAWSS) is appointed by members of the Mobile City Council. The commissioners serve staggered six-year terms or at least that is my understanding. The MAWSS board has the authority to shut the lake down. While I cannot confirm, it is rumored that the land around the lake is being prepared for a land grab….this may or may not explain why some of the land, or so I am told, is being cleared. I have no information to validate that other than what’s being floated around. One thing is for certain…..county residents should be working with their respective county commissioners to work with the city council and their respective MAWSS appointee for answers. if I am elected mayor I would make a commitment to find out what the overall agenda is for the Lake by working with the council to find a solution to reopening the lake. While that sounds simple, I am confident there would be legal hurdles and complications. My commitment is and has always been to serve the people. If the issue is nefarious and the land is being prepared for a landgrab, A topic this large should be left with the people to decide through a referendum that decision and not by a few people. If the matter is truly due to invasive species or bacteria then a time should be given to the people for reopening the lake. It is unknown what the mayor can and cannot do however all leaders should join in on the discussion if its important to the people. I say open the lake!!!!!!!!!!”
