BAY MINETTE — A local businessman's complaint about police activity, or lack of, prompted a City Council presentation Monday night by Bay Minette Police Chief Michael Rowland.

Rowland told council members and residents during the regular Bay Minette City Council meeting some residents have the seeming misconception that the department is not doing its job.

"A local businessman complained about activity around his business and the department's lack of drug enforcement and drug interdiction efforts," Rowland said.

"There are two basic factors that lead to the perception that we are not doing our job," he said.

He said one is the lack of a formal drug unit within the department, but explained that while that is something the department is working on, it isn't possible right now.

"We are a small department. The plan is once the police department is up to a full staff of 26 officers we will have a formal organized drug unit, but right now it is logistically unfeasible and financially irresponsible," he said.

Rowland said another factor is the lack of publicity when arrests are made. He said there are several reasons drug arrests are not publicized, the most important being the effect on future cases.

"That is a PR tool a department uses to put itself out there," he said. "Releasing information can be counterproductive to cases."

The department logged 1,992 crime reports from Jan. 1 2009 to Nov. 15, when the complaint was received, Rowland said. "Of those, 110, or 5.5 percent, were drug-related," he said.

"However, drug arrests made up 18.2 percent of all arrests," he added. "That means that one of every five arrests made were drug arrests."

He said of the 24 officers in the department, 19 are formally trained in drug interdiction.

"In 2009 we purchased a drug dog and both the dog and his handler received state and national certification training," Rowland said. "Our officers have received 722 hours of drug interdiction training at a direct cost to the city of $110."

He said the cost of that training has been kept low by utilizing free or low-cost schools, grants and other funding sources.

Rowland noted the one complaint was not in line with indicators from local schools and community meetings.

"There are 1,200 students at Baldwin County High School and we've had less than 10 drug incidents there," he said. "I think that's a good mark on the students, the administrators and city officials."

He referred to the numerous community meetings that have been held throughout the city, and the list of issues those residents brought to the table.

"The issue of drug deals was lower on the list of complaints than issues of storm drainage, noise ordinance violations, over-abundance of stop signs, and other issues," he said.

On a lighter note, Mayor Jamie Tillery had a number of announcements for those gathered at the meeting, beginning with a progress report from the weekend's 27th Annual Christmas Fest.

"Christmas Fest was a 'jolly' success with a parade that had 75 decorated vehicles. People had fun with their pets during the pet parade, it was just a great weekend," she said.

She also introduced Baldwin County High School Athletic Director David Wofford to discuss the upcoming visit from the Alabama All-Star Football Team.

Of all the cities in Baldwin County, Bay Minette was chosen as the site for the team's practice prior to Saturday's Alabama-Mississippi All-Star Game.

"The Mishkin Group was going to choose one city in Baldwin County as a practice site and asked each city to submit a proposal," Wofford said. "The Mayor, myself and a couple of others submitted our proposal and they gladly accepted our offer."

The team of top players from across the state began their Bay Minette visit with a trip to the William F. Green Veterans Home, followed by practice at Simmons Field, a catered dinner at the Civic Center and a visit to the new Fort Beveridge Fire Station.

The Council voted to give $100 from each contingency fund to support the team and their day in Bay Minette.

Tillery also invited everyone to a public meeting Dec. 15 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Civic Center to discuss the proposed connector road from Interstate 10 to Interstate 65.

"Come out and show your support for the most feasible, most optimal route for our city and all of Baldwin County," she said. "Invite everyone from Phillipsville to Perdido and anywhere that will be directly impacted by this decision."

Additionally, the Rotary Club of Bay Minette will celebrate its decades-long service to the city with a birthday bash and open house from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Rotary Retirement Village, 2211 McMillan Ave., Bay Minette.

Other business

In other business the council:

—Heard from a group of Korean War veterans who approached the council with a request to block traffic around the Korean Memorial in front of the library during the annual Veterans Day celebration. "The city already stops traffic around the square for that event, but I am asking the chief to reroute traffic for that area as well," Tillery explained.

—Agreed to give $250 from each contingency fund to the Employee Safety Recognition Fund.

—Approved the first reading of an ordinance approving the vacation of Fletcher Drive.

—Approved a resolution soliciting bids on equipment that is no longer usable to the city.