FOLEY, Alabama — Foley city employees heard a State of the City address given by Mayor John Koniar prior to the annual city employee luncheon last week. Koniar summed up the 2011 report by stating that Foley “had a good year”.

Koniar began by announcing that city employees will receive a 1.67 percent pay raise, effective in the Jan. 20 payroll check. The City of Foley also increased the number of annual holiday days for city employees from 8.5 days to 10 days beginning in calendar year 2012.

According to the mayor, during the past year the city performed well in both revenues collected and in holding down expenses.  Revenues exceeded the forecast by 2.14 percent, or $518,000.  Revenues were anticipated to be about $24.2 million but actually came in at around$24.7 million.  Expenses came in below budget by 1.06 percent, or $234,000.  Expenses were anticipated to close the year at roughly $22.1 but actually came in at about $21.9 million. Koniar praised the efforts of all city employees for helping to keep expenses in line to allow this to happen. Koniar added that 2012 will be a critical year for determining whether the economy will continue to see the growth that the city experienced during 2011.

These comments were followed by a listing of projects that were undertaken or completed during 2011. Phase III of the historic downtown Foley Streetscape project is underway, which includes new sidewalks, streetlamps to display hanging baskets or banners, repaving parking areas and new planting areas along Alston Street, W. Orange Avenue and Ala. 59.

The city established a Centennial Committee to plan events for Foley’s 100th birthday, which will occur in January of 2015. Celebration plans include installation of a clock tower and plaza in Heritage Park. Foley is also completing the Cedar Street sidewalk project, which connects Foley’s high school and intermediate school with the elementary and middle schools downtown. This project also helps Foley become a more walkable community, by connecting southern neighborhoods with downtown.

Several projects that were also completed were the Airport Drive extension, which was dedicated to state treasurer Kay Ivey, who helped with the project. Also completed were a picnic pavilion at Graham Creek Nature Preserve and a bike path on County Road 20 in the Glen Lakes area.

The city is also working closely with business owners in Uptown Foley to improve the business climate in this area of the city.

The mayor reported that the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce has moved from the corner of Ala. 59 and Highway 98 into a building on Highway. 98, which will allow the city to utilize the old chamber building for archives and possibly relocation of the old CVB into that building.

The City of Foley will continue to work with the United States National Guard for a “super armory” in the Barin Field Industrial Park, located on the east side of Foley. Jeff Rouzie, economic development manager for the city, is working with a number of industrial and retail prospects who are looking at Foley for possible relocation.

City officials have submitted a grant request in the amount of $23 million, called a Tiger Grant, which would be used to build walking and biking paths to make Foley a more walkable city. These improvements contribute to reduced traffic emissions and traffic congestion, and promote more healthy lifestyles.  The city is competing with other cities of comparable size for awards from this federal grant program. 

Foley city officials are also working to expand sports tourism through creating more youth tournaments, involving various sports, which bring large numbers of visitors into town.

Promoting eco-tourism through enhancements to the Graham Creek Nature Preserve, as well as access points for canoeing and kayaking along the northern end of Wolf Bay and its tributaries, are also projects city officials are working to complete.

The luncheon, which is held annually for city employees, was held at the Foley Civic Center and catered by the city’s Human Resources department. Two special guests were recognized by Mayor Koniar. They are former mayor Arthur Holk, and Lillian Fell, who served as city clerk for 30 years.