ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The new Robertsdale Public Works Complex under construction on Chicago Street north of the police station is nearing completion and employees expect to begin moving into the structure by the end of July, officials said during the Robertsdale City Council’s work session on Monday, June 7.
“The inside of the building is pretty much done,” said Public Works Director Scott Gilbert of the 23,000 square-foot administration office.
In December 2019, the council approved bids for the structure, pushing the cost of the project from an estimated $3.8 million to around $4.7 million.
Crews are finishing up landscaping and paving work on the outside of the structure and administration employees should be able to start moving in by the end of July.
“We’re all excited and ready to move in,” Gilbert said. “We will probably be going back and forth between the two buildings for a while.”
Gilbert said the goal is to have a ribbon cutting and open house for the structure some time in July where the public will be invited to walk through the facility.
In addition to the administration building, the project includes two warehouses, a mechanic shop, equipment shed and maintenance shop. The project will also include coverings for the two fuel pump stations.
The project is Phase 2 of an improvement project surrounding Honeybee Park. Phase 1 improvements to the park were dedicated in July of 2019.
Gilbert said they are hoping to have the entire complex completed by the end of 2021 and be able to start Phase 3 of the project, which will include an amphitheater, parking and restroom facilities, which has been scheduled as a $1 million cash capital expenditure project, in early 2022.
The council voted to solicit bids on the project in March and David Adams and Jason Shipp with Adams Stewart presented plans for the amphitheater at the council’s March 1 meeting, which included artist renderings and site plans for the structure, which will include an approximately 5,000-square-foot metal roof structure with an additional 6,200 square feet of ground space and 2,700 square feet of restroom space.
Gilbert and city engineer Greg Smith also discussed the progress of other projects, including a $14 million CDBG and USDA sewer and drainage project currently underway in the city and the progress of FEMA reimbursement from Hurricane Sally.
So far, the city has received only $126,000 in reimbursement from FEMA. Overall, the city projects total costs from Hurricane Sally recovery of $4.7 million, of which more than $3.5 million is expected to be reimbursed from FEMA, with $591,000 from the state, with an additional $236,000 in grant reimbursement, leaving the city’s cost at around $350,000, Murphy said.
In other business, the council passed a revised resolution regarding in support of a special 3-mil ad valorem tax that would be earmarked for the Central Baldwin Feeder Pattern.
Both the Robertsdale and Silverhill town councils passed the resolution in May and the revised resolution, presented by the Baldwin County Board of Education and passed by the Loxley Town Council during a special session held May 24, includes a legal description of the affected school district, which is part of the Robertsdale High School feeder pattern.
Silverhill Mayor Jared Lyles said the town council also passed the revised resolution at its meeting June 7. As with the May 3 vote, council members Tonie Norden and Gerald Ardoin voted against the measure.
The tax is similar to those that were passed in 2019 by the cities of Fairhope and Spanish Fort. If passed it would generate 3 mills and run for the next eight years, which would coincide with the renewal schedule for the Spanish Fort tax. The Fairhope tax was approved for 30 years.
A 1 mil property tax is equal to .01 % (.0001) of appraised property value, or 6 % of the assessed value of farmland. Senior citizens would be exempt from the tax.
The tax is projected to generate from $700,000 to $750,000 per year to be spend toward making academic and capital improvements, personnel and extra-curriculars at Silverhill Elementary, Loxley Elementary, Elsanor Elementary, Rosinton Elementary, Robertsdale Elementary, Central Baldwin Middle and Robertsdale High schools.
Improvements would include providing additional education opportunities, programs and facilities for students in Central Baldwin, Kerby said.
Also on June 7 the Robertsdale City Council:
In other business, the Silverhill Council:
