Orange Beach settles on some BP claims

By JOHN MULLEN

theislander@gulfcoastnewspapers.com

ORANGE BEACH, AL. – Mayor Tony Kennon was pleased with the latest settlement check from BP to assuage some of the harm from the company’s 2010 oil spill.

But even as the council accepted the payment at Tuesday’s meeting, he offered this caveat:

“We’re still not whole.”

The most recent check of $1.27 million officially closes 2010 claims on lodging and retail loss revenues and a few other small claims.

“It does not close out claims on everything else,” Kennon said. “We will still be in the running and continue to pursue everything else we think they might owe us.”

Councilman Brett Holk praised the hard work of those on the Finance Committee who were involved in the negotiations.

“This seems like a nice settlement right there for that portion of it,” Holk said.

Also on Tuesday the council was presented with a bid on kitchen equipment at the Events Center at The Wharf.

Officials met with local restaurateurs and caterers to help in the decision on what to include.

“We spoke with, state and local people and restaurateurs about the equipment list,” Angela Bateman of the Parks and Recreation Department said. “This is all new equipment.”

Councilwoman Joni Blalock had a questioned whether or not enough equipment was included in the bid.

“And this is intentional,” Bateman said. “This is without a range-fryer system because that requires a whole system which is a significantly in price more expensive. They’re all used to working without of that. The table and prep area are really important.”

“And 90 percent of this can be handled with this type of kitchen without the fryer,” Kennon said.

The money spent was significantly under what was budgeted for the project, according the Councilman Jeff Silvers.

When the council purchased the center for $1.6 million in March, but also included $500,000 for upgrades to the facility. Of that, $36,000 was set aside to add a kitchen.

The final bid from Mobile Fixture, which the council is expected to approve Tuesday, came in at just under $28,000.