FOLEY, Ala. — With loss of jobs and layoffs hitting its sister cities hard, the City of Foley continues to look at options regarding possible layoffs among city employees. A budget meeting will be held Friday at 3 p.m., according to Mayor John Koniar.

“We have made no final decisions. We are looking at that even as we speak,” Koniar said of potential layoffs in comments made following Monday’s city council meeting.

The mayor said a determination one way or the other regarding layoffs is possible over the next 30 days.

In council action Monday, council members approved the purchase of a piece of property on the north side of East Laurel Avenue (U.S. Highway 98) across the street from Dixie Furniture Co. With councilmen Charlie Ebert III and Wayne Trawick abstaining, the city agreed to pay $170,000 for the property which is on the east side of Heritage Park.

The mayor called the purchase of the property an “excellent buy.” Speaking of the property purchase following the council meeting, Koniar said the city may acquire the old Foley schoolhouse building and put it at the site.

“There is nothing definite yet, but we felt like it was a good piece of property for the city to own,” Koniar said.

With the approval of a resolution, council members named the Foley Soccer Complex after the late Ralph Schumacher, city fire chief for many years.

City council representative appointments to boards included Vera Quaites to the Foley Housing Authority, Charlie Ebert III to the Museum & Archives, and Wayne Trawick to Industrial Development.

Council members approved Roddy Burkle to the Public Building Authority, Public Library Authority, Public Park & Recreation Authority and Public Redevelopment Authority; Judge Harry Wilters to the Medical Clinic Board; and Al Stapel to the Museum & Archive Board to replace Paul Roberts, who has resigned.

“Looking to increase recycling efforts in the City of Foley,” the council set a public hearing to discuss a grant for recycling cans.

At a cost of approximately $1,800, a resolution was approved to use the E-ticket Citation Program in Foley. The equipment automatically loads traffic tickets into the Magistrate’s computer system, thus saving time and money on doing so manually.

Also approved was $18,322 for hydraulic equipment (rescue tools) for Foley Fire Department.

The mayor read a proclamation declaring Feb. 28, 2009, Arbor Day in the City of Foley. Arbor Day events will be held that day at Heritage Park beginning at 10 a.m. Saplings will be given away at the time. Foley has been a “Tree City USA” for 28 years.

A public hearing was set to consider violations of the Grass & Weed Abatement Ordinance on property at 12441 Osbourne Drive.