FOLEY, Ala. — Nine new Foley police officers were sworn in Monday during the city council meeting. The swearing in ceremony was conducted by Municipal Court Judge Mary Murchison.

The nine new officers are Caleb Bibby, Kenneth Dixon, Ward Faust, Albert Lugo, Jerry Monte, Derrick Powe, Karla Smith, Chris Washington and Jason Williams. Police Chief David Wilson told the mayor and council that Lugo would be Foley Police Department’s Hispanic relations officer.

As has been the case a lot lately, Monday’s Foley City Council meeting was preceded by public hearings regarding properties in violation of the city’s Grass & Weed Abatement Ordinance. The two properties in question were 602 W. Orchid Ave. and Blue Heron Subdivision.

While other properties that violated the ordinance were on the printed agenda for Monday’s meeting, Mayor John Koniar noted a number of them had been abated.

When the council moved to consider a resolution to set public hearings on two other properties, Councilman Charlie Ebert III noted one of those had the wrong address. The council thus approved setting a public hearing for 602 W. Fern Ave. The other property on North Oak Street will need a corrected address before a public hearing can be set for it, City Administrator Perry Wilbourne told the council.

Council members, with the Police Department’s recommendation, agreed to approve a Retail Beer (On and Off Premises) license for John Sullens under the trade name of Smokehouse BBQ and Grill for their location at 201 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 105.

The council also agreed to write off as uncollectible two residential sanitation accounts of $271.53 and $6.24.

Approval was given for the Snook Family YMCA to host the 2nd Annual Kids Need Heroes 5k Run/Walk the last Saturday in February 2010, and for Southside Missionary Baptist Church to use Aaronville Park on Dec. 18-19 for an outreach program.

Approval was given for a resolution accepting ADECA Traffic Grant monies in the amount of $4,000 to conduct traffic enforcement. Also, approval was given for a bid of $191,582 from Hurricane Electronics for a new public radio system and expenses related to installation.

Approval was given for $9,198 for repairs on the Police Department’s door entry system.

A resolution was approved for $6,058 for Thompson Engineering to develop a plan and remove the old Foley Police Department monitoring wells as required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.