FOLEY, Ala. — With city council members looking on, six new Foley police officers were sworn in prior to Monday’s city council meeting.

Police Chief David Wilson introduced the officers and told the council the six were recruited from “all over the southeast” and as faraway as Colorado.

The six officers bring the total of new hirings to more than 20 since Wilson took office nearly two years ago. The city committed then to beefing up Foley Police Department’s numbers in light of unprecedented growth in Foley.

Foley Municipal Court Judge Mary Murchison conducted the swearing in ceremony as officers’ family members and friends looked on. The six officers are Larry Dearing, Michelle Oliver, Michael Gullatte, Alysia Park, Martin Nicely and Jarrette Holcombe. Park, Nicely and Holcombe are still in the Police Academy.

Following the swearing in ceremony, council members agreed to set public hearings for a weed abatement and public nuisance order at 218 W. Rosetta Ave.; an ordinance regarding litter control; and an ordinance regarding public nuisance abatement.

Council members also approved residential sanitation write-offs in the amount of $146.84, those deemed uncollectable for accounting purposes.

Also approved was a second reading of a Planning Commission’s recommendation for initial zoning of Lake View Villas (north of Baldwin County Road 12 and south of Miflin Road) as a Planned Unit Development (the 9.15 acres were annexed by Legislative Act) and a first reading of an ordinance setting the District boundaries of the Local Commercial Historic District.

Among the purchases and appropriations approved by council on Monday were the following:

$42,800 for athletic uniforms for teams that are part of the Recreation Department’s youth sports program.

$3,150 for an air compressor for the Maintenance Department.

$3,106 for a mower deck to replace a 72-inch deck that is worn out.

$1,366 for Train Depot lights.

$3,696 to complete software upgrades for the Planning Department.

$9,976 for security system upgrades to Fire Station #2.

$9,000 to supplement engineering firm’s existing contract for Foley Middle/Elementary schools’ drainage study (Councilman Wayne Trawick abstaining).

$47,877 for park improvements in neighborhoods that include Beulah Heights and Aaronville.

$29,995 for R & S Paving’s price quote for work on the Soccer Field north ditch.

In other council action Monday, members approved a resolution accepting Taylor-Woerner Inc.’s change order that decreases their contract in the amount of $38,781 for the Sports Park complex.

Approval was given for waiving the building moratorium in the Historic District so a building permit could be issued to a property owner.

Vickey Southern, assistant city clerk, was approved as the absentee elections manager.

Bonnie Bodine was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Beautification Board brought about by a resignation.

Council members agreed to waive fees for Wolf Bay Watershed Watch’s use of Foley Civic Center on Nov. 20, 2008, for its 10th Anniversary celebration.

Approval was also given for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s fundraising event to be held Sept. 27-28, 2008.