SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council adopted a resolution Monday stating that protective boom purchased for oil spill response was no longer needed and declared it surplus property. The resolution authorized the city to dispose of 27,500 feet of “used and decontaminated boom” and 23,000 feet of new 8-inch absorbent boom through a bid process.

The boom will be sold to the highest bidder, but the council has authority to reject all bids if determined that they are “less than adequate consideration for the property,” according to the resolution.

Mayor Tim Kant also reported at Monday's council meeting that the city still has approximately $500,000 in oil spill response grant funds allocated from the state by BP.

“They've asked (for the funds) back,” said Kant, referring to the process that all funds not used must be returned to BP. “But we met with the governor last Wednesday, and he said to hold (the funds). So, we're waiting to see what we can or cannot do.”

The city plans to file a claim against the $500,000 for all municipal staff time and expenses used for oil spill response, Kant said.

Meanwhile, the city of Spanish Fort is moving forward with plans to petition the Alabama Emergency Management Agency to allow repurposing of its $500,000 share of oil spill response dollars The Spanish Fort City Council approved a resolution Aug. 16 authorizing Mayor Joe Bonner to tweak its original grant request and ask for the funds to be redirected toward construction of a first responders and storage facility to prepare for and respond to the next disaster. Because the city’s initial perceived needs for skimmers, additional personnel and boom placement and maintenance were ultimately folded into the larger Alabama Contingency Plan, the funds were never utilized.

Staff writer Mike Odom contributed to this report.