Foley is starting the process of building a new library on city-owned property near downtown with the hope of beginning construction sometime in 2023.
At the Oct. 18 work session, the council discussed several service proposals including getting ADEM approval for the site, geotechnical and topographical surveys and architecture services. The parcel is on East Orange Avenue to the north and East Myrtle Avenue on the south and east of State Route 59.
“At this point we really don’t have any specific details and that is what we will spend this year creating,” City Administrator Michael Thompson said. “The idea though, is to build a new library to meet the needs and services for our city, and the current library would become an administrative building on the city campus for office space needs of various departments as the city continues to grow.”
In FY 2022, the city will pay for all the services to determine site viability and begin exploring possible designs for the new building.
“If the council choose to move forward, construction in fiscal year 2023,” Thompson said.
Foley actually owns three parcels of property in the area the largest one having East Orange Avenue on the north, East Myrtle Avenue on the south, South Chicago Street right of way on the west and South Cypress Street on the east. The Symbol medical clinic that serves Foley city employees is on the northwest corner of this parcel.
The second of those is bordered on the east by the South Chicago Street right of way and on the west by an alley. It contains the Foley Dog Park and an accompanying parking lot that also serves downtown shopping. Foley also owns a parking lot on State Route 59 or South McKenzie Street between Bungalows and the Napa Auto Parts store.
During the work session, the council discussed:
- Annexing property owned by Flowers 8 at the southwest corner of County Road 12 and State Route 59 into the city of Foley.
- Declaring the Engineering Building as surplus and granting the deed to the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce for its operations.
- A special events liquor license of Blooms 4 You for the Chocolate and Cheese Festival on Nov. 13 in Heritage Park.
- A liquor license for Popshelf Store for off-premises sales at 23570 S. McKenzie St.
- A resolution requesting to purchase Southern Software’s mobile data information system for $42,455.
- A resolution Approving an Agreement with Mobile County Commission’s Southwest Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office’s Community Traffic Safety Program (CTSP) for reimbursement of overtime for the FY 2021-2022 for the Foley Police Department’s extra work on traffic detail.
- A resolution approving the use of Heritage Park and Pavilion for Michelle Szidon with Acceptance Insurance to host a movie in the park night for the kids in the community.
- A resolution waiving fees for the use of Mel Roberts Park for Andrea Overstreet and Faith Tabernacle to host a community church fellowship.
- A resolution to accept the grant award from ADCNR for the Northwest Quadrant Comprehensive Plan update for $20,000 to complete the update of the city’s plan. This area includes South Baldwin Regional Medical Center, which will be expanding, the Foley Municipal Airport, UTC Aerospace Systems/Rockwell Collins, M1 – light industrial district and U.S. 98.
- A resolution appropriating additional funds for the purchase for a new bathroom/pavilion at Mel Roberts Park and permission to bid and purchase with a price tag of about $180,000. These bathrooms will serve the tennis and basketball courts at the park.
- A resolution approving the purchase of a 2023 custom fire pumper for the Foley Fire Department. The original cost was $611,440 but the city was granted a 100 percent pre-payment discount of $19,179 bringing the cost of the new truck to $592,261.
- A resolution memorializing entering into an interlocal agreement between governmental entities in Florida and Alabama for the acceptance and processing of source separated recyclables. Foley will send separated recyclables to Emerald Coast Utilities Authority for resale.
- A proposal for permitting two additional fireworks shows at OWA for Saturday, Nov. 20 for the Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and on Friday, Dec. 31 for a New Year’s Eve celebration.
- A resolution approving FY21 equipment not received by year end including lights and other accessories for two 2021 Silverado pickup trucks for code enforcement and lights and accessories for five Silverado pickup trucks for the police department.
- A resolution to purchase a zero-turn mower for the Nature Parks Department at a cost of $10,999 plus about $8,900 for a 52-inch mowing deck.
- A resolution approving an intergovernmental service agreement for the use of county voting machines and the services of the county voting machine custodian and employees for municipal elections.
- Resolutions reappointing A. Clyde Abrams to the Foley Building Authority, Foley Library Authority, Foley Public Park & Recreation Authority and Foley Redevelopment Authority, appointing Dr. Brett Taylor to the Library Advisory Board and appointing Rick Blackwell to the Public Athletic and Sports Facilities Cooperative District and the Public Cultural and Entertainment Facilities Cooperative District.
- A resolution approving entering into the FBI’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) overtime reimbursement agreement.
- Two resolutions setting public hearing dates to declare weeds at 312 W. Marigold Ave. and 1608 S. Oak St. a public nuisance and ordering the cutting or removal of the weeds.
- A resolution amending the pay classification plan and authorizing the transfer of funds for job analyses in the library, marketing and general government departments.
- A resolution to increase sanitation commercial budgeted funds for dumpsters. According to city documents, $500,000 was budgeted for the dumpsters but the quote came in at $799,970. A request has been made for an additional $300,000.
- A resolution appropriating funds for a reel mower for Foley Sports Tourism fields for $66,215.
- A Resolution to purchase three security door systems for Public Works for $9,582.
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