FOLEY, Ala. — Longtime Foley businessman and former mayor Arthur Holk was on hand at Monday’s Foley City Council meeting to address concerns regarding the city’s withdrawal of police and fire services last year from the three-mile area outside the city limits.

Holk was a vocal critic of pulling out of the so-called “police jurisdiction.” He asked council members Monday if they had reconsidered the action.

Mayor John Koniar told Holk the council for the present wants to maintain the pullout.

“Out plate’s full,” Koniar said, a reference to police and firefighters having plenty to do within the corporate limits.

Koniar said the council might reconsider the matter “down the road,” but noted “we respond if we’re called.”

Holk noted he sees police and fire personnel operating outside the city limits. He called that a “violation of the (withdrawal) ordinance,” to which Koniar said that was subject to legal interpretation.

Councilman Charlie Ebert III said the city’s public safety personnel sometimes have to travel through areas in the police jurisdiction to get where they are going on calls.

Police Chief David Wilson told Holk the council had modified the original ordinance withdrawing from the police jurisdiction in order to allow Foley police to respond to calls for assistance from the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies.

“They deserve this protection,” said Holk of police and fire services for all living within the police jurisdiction.

When council members approved an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium on the demolition of certain buildings or structures within the proposed Downtown Historic District, Holk asked why a temporary ordinance was necessary. He wasn’t aware of anybody planning to demolish a building downtown, he said.

Koniar, in response, said somebody could decide to do so tomorrow, and the ordinance protects against that.

Holk also requested that handicapped parking spaces at the ABC Store, which he owns, be repainted. Employees at the store say the spaces are faded, Holk said.

In other council action, the following resolutions were approved:

Low bid from Asphalt Services, $182,245, for Gateway Park (located in front of the Justice Center);

Hatch Mott MacDonald ingress/egress design for connection from the Event Center to Juniper Street, $32,350;

Bridge repairs on the Foley Beach Express, $82,827;

Gulf Equipment bid of $3,265,038 for Phase II of the Baldwin County Road 20 construction, the mayor noting the bid came in $700,000 under budget;

Low bid from R&S Paving Inc. for $78,414 for restoration paving of parking lots at the Senior Center and Municipal Complex;

Low bid of $18,999 by Moyer Ford for a pickup truck. Also, a low bid of $9,999 for a diesel-powered mower, both items for the Parks Department;

Two laptop computers and software for Police Department, $3,098;

Community Development Block Grant in the amount of $500,000 (city match of $100,000) for Sunset Circle stormwater drainage facilities.

The following were appointed to serve on the newly formed Historical Commission: Barbara Ingram, Carolyne Hollis, Dave Rauch for three-year terms; Barbara Wagner, Jack Purser for two-year terms; Bonnie Donaldson, Lewis Newland for one-year terms; Pat Davis as alternate.

Council members suspended the rules for immediate approval of a resolution for issuance of Gulf Opportunity Zone Redevelopment Bonds by the Foley Redevelopment Authority. Proceeds are proposed to finance a portion of the costs of acquiring, constructing and equipping an office and restaurant facilities on North McKenzie Street owned and operated by McKenzie Center LLC. (Ebert and Councilman Wayne Trawick abstained.)

Due to a scheduling conflict, council members moved the May 19 council meeting to May 12.

The council heard Sheila Hodges, chair of the Variance Board, ask for feedback concerning electronic signs. The mayor told her the council needs to try and keep its distance from the matter; that the council is not supposed to try and influence the board.

Hodges asked that the draft of a signage ordinance in her words “look a little deeper and broader” into the matter of electronic signs.

The council heard Theressia Conner of Mills complain about the operation of a dirt pit in her neighborhood. A “sinkhole” is the way she described it.

Koniar said the city has looked into the matter legally but has no jurisdiction since the dirt pit is in the county. The mayor urged her to contact Commissioner Skip Gruber about her concerns, one of which is the number of children in the area who could be endangered by the pit.