SPANISH FORT, Ala. — City officials unanimously approved a tax abatement for Texas Investment, LLC and Marine Specialty Company, Inc. Monday.

City Attorney David J. Conner said the tax abatement is within the city guidelines as it falls into the highest category for tax abatement.

Texas Investment, LLC is the entity which will do construction and own the new building, which is located at the I-10 Commerce Center.

Marine Supply will run and operate the business, which will include equipment assembly and industrial wholesale.

The total investment will be in excess of $2 million. There will be approximately 30 employees with salaries estimated to be $l.8 million yearly. Both entities have to sign off according to the Alabama Department of Revenue, Conner said.

The motion to adopt received unanimous approval.

In other city council news:

• A public hearing was held regarding annexing property owned by Hawthorne Properties. The location is located west of The Highlands PUD and consists of 700 acres.

It is contiguous with Colonial Properties, which has 600 acres, developer Trey Jinright said.

The PUD has been approved by the county and developers will follow the design standards set by The Highlands. Jinright will come back with a PUD and is requesting annexation of the property into city.

The item will be held over until the next meeting with documentation from the neighboring piece, Conner said.

• Council members unanimously approved an independent contractor agreement for engineering services to be provided by Marvin Pitts. Pitts will provide consulting and engineering services for the City’s planning commission, mayor and city council.

• Resident Charles Kettell, who lives on Artillery Range Road, expressed concern about the regulation of the rental market in Spanish Fort Estates. With the increase in installation of single family homes he asked if there a total number of occupants allowed in a single family home.

He said that protection is needed to regulate the number of occupants.

Councilwoman Mary Brabner recommended that Kettell consider joining the homeowners association for that area.

Conner said the city may consider the number of tenants and look at it on a case-by-case basis to determine what the city can do. Mayor Joe Bonner said the homeowners’ association and the city need to address the issue.

Kettell did commend the city on the drainage system on Range Road.

• A local resident who lives off Coleman Lane requested that there be a traffic light placed at the intersection of Highway 31 and Coleman Lane since there have been a few wrecks at that location.

The resident also asked for more police monitoring. Bonner said that area was under the sheriff’s jurisdiction and she would need to contact the Alabama Department of Transportation regarding a traffic light.

She requested that her property be annexed into the city limits and her road paved. Bonner told her that if her property was contiguous to city limits she can ask for annexation and he instructed her to contact building official Bruce Renkert for more details.

If her property is annexed Bonner said the road would be put on a list of roads to be paved.

• Bonner said the city’s first Christmas Parade was a “good mix” with a lot of participants. The parade committee presented Bonner with a momento of the “Spirit of Christmas” parade with a red wagon keepsake. Parade organizer Donna Dunning was given a trophy and a certificate of appreciation by Bonner. Certificates of appreciation were also given to members of the parade committee: Mary Lynn Lowery, Kay Korb Brown, Lori Conner, Kristen Kammer-Hattox and Debbie Bonner.

Christmas Parade award winners:

• Mayor’s Choice award: Westminster Village

• Spirit of Christmas (tie): Susan’s School of Dance and Spanish Fort High School Marching Band

• Most Creative Entry: The Haven

• Best of Show: City of Spanish Fort

*The city’s first fireside reading of “The Night Before Christmas,” by Clement Clarke Moore, will be held on Thursday, Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. at Five Rivers Delta Resource Center on Battleship Parkway. Parents are encouraged to bring children in their pajamas and to bring their favorite blankie.

• City Hall and city offices will be closed on Monday, Jan. 21 in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

• The next city council meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 7 at 6 p.m. in the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church Prodisee Center.