“Poor planning on your part does not create an emergency on our part.”

Ever heard that one? Usually it’s true, but in Florala’s case, poor planning on the state’s part really could create a problem for the city.

We are talking, of course, about the million-dollar facility constructed over the past couple of years at Lake Jackson. Designed as a multi-purpose facility suitable for weddings, receptions, reunions, conferences and outdoor concerts, it also was to serve as the public restroom facility at Florala State Park.

But a funny thing happened in the planning stage. No one considered the potential problems of having the swimming-suit clad masses walk into a wedding to use the facilities.

And so, the community of Florala finds itself in a bit of an emergency in the wake of that poor planning, and the emergency has come at a time when the Alabama State Parks System is cutting jobs and considering closing nine state parks – Florala and and Opp’s Lake Frank Jackson among them – in 2012-2013.

Earlier this week, the Florala City Council voted to pay half of the estimated $40,000 construction costs for a separate bathroom facility. If they can get the state to cooperate, it will be $20,000 well-spent to get the porta-potties off Lake Jackson’s pristine shores and keep the masses coming to Florala without, um, going, in the wrong places.

We are hopeful that this kind of cooperation will keep these two very important economic engines operational in Covington County well past the 2012-2013 fiscal year.