BAY MINETTE — The City of Bay Minette is taking another step in its preparation for HK Motors, the hybrid car company that in September 2009 announced its intentions to locate its first plant at the mega-site industrial park north of Bay Minette.

Chris Baker of the Hutchinson, Moore & Rauch engineering firm gave a presentation at the Bay Minette City Council’s work session Tuesday evening on the Tiger II Planning Grants Program.

“This grant will provide funding for transportation corridors, creating new transportation options, and planning to create an affordable, economically vital and sustainable community,” Baker said.

He said the grant could also be used to “fund master plans, corridor plans and similar strategies to create walkable, mixed-use, transit-oriented and affordable communities for all income levels.”

The grant is part of a competitive, nationwide program for planning, funded by $35 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation and $40 million from The Department of Housing and Urban Development.

“It is included in the FY2010 Appropriations Act, which means it can be included in next year’s budget,” Baker said.

He said the alternative modes of transportation, that will include the “complete streets strategy,” will connect neighborhoods with schools, shopping and other destinations.

More importantly, plans will address the issue “the traffic flows of HK, its supplier base and other partners to prepare for traffic increases, future road alignments and other improvements.”

“HK will be a huge shot in the arm, but you have to also be prepared for the myriad of suppliers for automotive, technology and more. Supplier sites will reach a 95-mile radius,” Baker said. “Bay Minette and the region will be competing with other locales for additional business development. Competition is fierce.

“I love the quote by William Knudsen: ‘In business, the competition will bite you if you keep running; if you stand still, they will swallow you.’”

Baker said the firm, on behalf of the city, is asking for a grant of approximately $275,000. He said because Bay Minette is defined as a rural community, it is eligible for 100 percent funding.

“We cannot guarantee entire funding. We can’t guarantee the grant,” he said.

He said to apply the city must register with grants.gov by July 16. A pre-application must be completed by July 23 and a completed application must be submitted by August 23.

“Notice of awards will be after September 15,” Baker said.

New procedure for funding requests

The city has a new “justification form” that organizations will use when asking the city to support them financially.

Information would include who is asking for the money, how much they are asking for and how the money would be used.

“This way we can have documentation to show to the state what that money was used for,” Mayor Jamie Tillery said. “We’re proud to assist them, but we have to be accountable.”

She said the form will also help the council decide how much to give, who should give (if out of a contingency fund) and if it can be given.

“It is a process that gives some lead time and that can benefit the council,” she said.

Fire department gets new siren

Bay Minette Fire Chief Phil Bryars demonstrated a new siren on his truck that should decrease the number of accidents involving emergency vehicles.

“It’s called a howler and it uses woofers to amplify the sound of the siren,” Bryars said. He said he is working on a grant that would fund howlers for all emergency vehicles, including fire, police and EMS.

“Most incidents occur at intersections,” he said. “This emits a 60-second burst.”