SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Mayor Joe Bonner during Monday’s regular City Council meeting announced the pending formation of a formal advisory board to oversee the potential creation of a community center to serve Spanish Fort residents. The project has an estimated $1.5 million in seed money.

“We’ve been talking about the possibility of a community center for some time, and we feel like it’s time to move forward in whatever ways we can,” Bonner said.

The long-proposed city complex would be constructed on 18 acres purchased by the city five years ago at the intersection of highways 72 and 31. To date, preliminary discussions have focused on the need to create civic office space, a community center and a library.

The nine-member body, Bonner said, would include the mayor, chairman of the Planning Commission and two community figures representing the interests of senior citizens and library services. In addition, each of the council’s five members can opt to either sit on the advisory board personally or appoint someone from his district to serve.

Bonner said he expects the body to be assembled and working within weeks.

“The city of Spanish Fort has been setting aside monies to address the need for this community center, and we have determined that we will need to do it in phases, but we do have close to $1.5 million so far as a downpayment to get this process started,” he said, adding, “I assure you this will be dictated in a timely manner based on the financial stability of this city and that we will make sound financial decisions in this process.”