Foley Mayor John Koniar was absent from the city’s first council meeting of December due to personal obligations, but the city council conducted regular business in his absence with mayor pro-temp Wayne Trawick taking charge.

The council approved a resolution memorializing the acceptance of the 2010 COPS technology grant, which was discussed at a previous meeting. Police Chief David Wilson said the grant had become more flexible, allowing the city to pursue other options, which will not require the city to foot the bill for steep maintenance costs. According to Wilson, the city has three years to complete the grant, which was originally intended to place monitored cameras and a wireless network in the city’s parks.

Wilson’s request to purchase 38 portable GPS microphones as part of the 2008 COPS technology grant the department received was also approved by the council. The microphones were originally supposed to just be portable, but the purchase was upgraded, with no additional cost to the city, to microphones that would allow the officers to be tracked even if they left their vehicles.

The first reading of an ordinance governing the removal of canine fecal matter was passed. Wilson said the ordinance was similar to those in other neighboring municipalities.

The purchase of a message center and literature rack to be placed at the Graham Creek Nature Preserve Pavilion as part of the State Lands Grant used to develop the property was approved. The literature will include maps of the trails within the preserve and other pertinent information. The purchase of the message center will not exceed $2,500. The council also approved the second reading of an ordinance, which allows the city to set up times of operation and other rules regarding the Graham Creek Nature Preserve.

The council also granted permission to begin taking bids on portable bleachers to be used at city functions and sporting events around the city.

Councilman Charles Ebert III suggested during the council’s work session that the city’s alarm permit ordinance be altered to better serve the city’s residents. Under the current ordinance, alarm systems within the city’s police jurisdiction are required to pay a $25 fee each year if the alarm system detects fire and an addition $25 fee if the alarm system detects burglaries. Ebert proposed the ordinance be given consideration, and suggested the fee be reduced from $50 a year to $25 a year since most alarm systems monitor for both fire and break-ins. The proposed change would only apply to single-family residential alarms systems. No action was taken to change the ordinance at this council meeting, but the council agreed the situations should be looked into further.

The city’s streetscapes project in the downtown area on Laurel Avenue is progressing, according to Butch Stokes. However, between the Alfa Insurance office and Dr. Hart’s office, the project has encountered an unexpected obstacle. According to Stokes, when the asphalt was taken up to make improvements, the material underneath the existing sidewalks was not stable and will have to be removed. Stokes said the material, which appears to be remnants from a pond, would only cause more problems if left. The council approved a resolution allowing James Brothers Excavating Company to make the required repairs for $16,775.  

The council also approved the installation of needed streetlights and poles on West Marigold Street between North Elm and North Beech streets and approved the allocation of $1,909 to irrigate near the pond and sign at the Wolf Bay Lodge property.

Continuing the city’s self-insurance policy for another year was approved by the council, and members also agreed to allow the March of Dimes to hold a fundraiser in Heritage park with no fees on April 30.

Richard Peterson with Riviera Utilities gave a presentation to the council about the status of an EPA grant the city received along with other Baldwin County municipalities. The original grant totaled $370,000, but according to Peterson, only $306,000 has been spent to date. The grant has funded projects, which have explored the possibilities for storm water recharge and wastewater reuse.

There are currently two facilities set up in Foley to monitor storm water and ways to capture it and treat it to allow it to either return to the ground to be filtered as nature intended. With some of the remaining grant money, Peterson wants to add a wastewater reuse project. The reusable water will not be safe to drink or use in households, but Peterson hopes once it is treated, the water could be used to clean machinery.