SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Editor’s Note: City leaders, eager to move forward with revamping Spanish Fort’s official website, gave the top two firms vying for the job another chance to showcase their expertise before making a decision.

“I told them, ‘We know what your strengths are. Now we need you to bring it together and show us the full package,’” District 5 Councilwoman Mary Brabner told members of the City Council Friday at the beginning of a called work session on the subject.

Mayor Joe Bonner said council members have been given time to weigh the supplemental presentations of both Daphne-based Fresh Focus Group and Robertsdale-based Business Information Solutions Inc. Previous presentations gave BSI the upper hand on the technical side, while Fresh Focus Group’s strength to date has been on the marketing side.

While there is a “strong possibility” the item could appear on Monday’s council agenda, Bonner said no deadline has been imposed because council members want to make certain the right firm is selected.

The city’s 2010-11 operating budget, approved in early October, includes $10,000 for the website overhaul and maintenance, but neither company’s projected costs for the project had been made public at press time.

BIS cites data recovery, SEO as company strengths

SPANISH FORT — Crafting a website that not only informs residents but drives business and visitors to Spanish Fort by showcasing its unique historical heritage could transform the city’s existing site into a hub for progress and growth.

Phillip Long, president of BIS Designs LLC, told members of the City Council Friday the Robertsdale-based information solutions company is “uniquely qualified” to achieve both goals because the firm’s expertise would allow the city to better market city services while streamlining workflow and incorporating a state-of-the-art document management system.

Woman touts outsourced technological expertise as credit

SPANISH FORT — Spanish Fort’s marketing needs are rife with conflicting objectives, and Kathy Estadt is confident Fresh Focus Group can give the city exactly what it needs to showcase amenities without sacrificing technical expertise.

Specifically, Estadt said the city needs to craft an official website that communicates both the seriousness of a municipality on the brink of substantial growth and the friendly, small-town reputation Spanish Fort has earned.

See the full story — including each side's exhaustive justifications for being chosen — in the Jan. 19 edition of The Bulletin.