BAY MINETTE, Ala. — The Bay Minette City Council will schedule a public hearing to discuss a new zoning ordinance, which has not been updated since 1989.

"A public hearing will be set for the council's Feb. 7 meeting to allow anyone to discuss any concerns they have," City Clerk Rita Findley said.

The 131-page document is available for viewing at the city's Building and Planning Department, in the Municipal Complex next to the Bay Minette Area Senior Center. A full description of the ordinance can be found in the Friday, Dec. 31, edition of The Baldwin Times.

Up for approval by the council is the recommendation of two new members for the North Baldwin Utilities Board of Directors. J.M. "Pete" Pederson and Dr. William Godbey will be leaving the board, having served six years. "The board's bylaws only allow a member to serve one term," NBU General Manager Jason Padgett said. "That gives everybody the opportunity to serve."

Pederson is retired from the City of Mobile's Administrative Services and Community Affairs office, while Godbey is a retired chiropracter.

Recommended for appointment are James H. Robertson, a local certified public accountant, and Larry F. Taylor, owner of Gulf Packaging. If approved, the two will begin their terms March 1.

"The council should approve those (appointments) Monday," Padgett said.

The council will also discuss the renewal of a housing contract between the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and the City of Bay Minette. Individuals arrested within the city of Bay Minette are taken to the Baldwin County Corrections Facility to be processed and held until bail is set. In a cover letter sent to the city with the contract, Sheriff Huey "Hoss" Mack reminded council members the fee for housing inmates would increase in 2011.

"The current housing contract between the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office and the city of Bay Minette will expire on 1/16/2011. As discussed in the past with the previous mayor (Sonny Dobbins) and (Bay Minette) Police Chief (Michael) Rowland, the housing rate will increase to the same amount we charge other municipalities," Mack said in the letter.

 He said the new rate will be $50 per day per inmate.

Following adjournment of the council meeting, council members and anyone else interested will go to the Recreation Department and skating rink for a tour of recent additions and improvements. In conjunction with the tour, the center will be hosting a Rec and Roll New Year's party from 6 to 8 p.m. with $1 skating and other activities.

"We will introduce our new games and show all our improvements," Recreation Department Supervisor Kelly Johnson said.

For details about the new and improved center, see the Dec. 31 edition of The Baldwin Times.

Other business to be addressed during the meeting are: consideration of travel requests for Parks and Grounds Supervisor Joseph Hall and employee Geoff Hardy to attend the 2011 Gulf States Horticulture Expo in Mobile Jan. 19-20 and Bay Minette Fire Chief Phil Bryars to attend the Fire Chiefs Executive Development Conference in Tuscaloosa Feb. 1-4; and a second reading for a request to change the name of Faulkner Lane to Dee Watts Road.