FAIRHOPE, Ala. — Fairhope’s recycling program improved this year, receiving approximately 172 more tons of paper and other materials than were collected in 2006.

“It was a huge increase in several areas,” said Public Works Director Jennifer Fidler.

The city also received approximately $39,000 more for selling the recycled materials than in 2006.

Overall, the city collected 2,131 tons of recycled materials and received $126,339 for them in 2007, compared with 1959 tons and $87,749 in 2006, according to the report.

“We’re always trying to get more people to recycle,” Councilman Mike Ford said at Monday’s City Council meeting.

Ford presented a report on the city’s recycling program, which showed increases in most areas of recycling paper, aluminum, metal, plastic and other materials in the city.

“I have to commend the schools,” Fidler said. “They really have been doing a great job. We can tell the difference in the summer by the decreases in materials received when the students aren’t in school.”

Fidler said that almost 40 percent of local residents are now recycling, and that the city is seeking to get to 60 percent overall recycling in the area.

“We said that whatever we improved in one year, we would give back to parks,” Ford said, pointing to a city resolution that would take a percentage of funds from the program to improve city parks.

The council decided to consider the issue at its next meeting in January.

In other business, the council:

• Heard a report from Planning Director Gregg Mims on the city’s new Connectivity Committee that will examine requirements of the city’s comprehensive plan and possible alternatives for street connections between communities.

The council appointed the following people to serve on the committee as recommended in the report:  Clyde Panneton, Gary Moore, Pat Achee, Fran Faust Slade, Councilman Ford, Mayor Tim Kant and Gregg Mims. During the meeting, Councilwoman Debbie Quinn was also added to serve on the committee.

The council directed the committee to meet and report back on its findings early next year.

• Recognized the city’s new public library director, Ilse Krick.

Martin Lanaux, chairman of the library board, said that Krick had served as assistant director and interim director of the library, and that her leadership and ability in those positions led the board to hire her for the permanent position two weeks ago.

“I cannot think of a better place in which to be a library director,” Krick said.

Lanaux also presented a check for $2,500 to the city for repayment of the loan for construction of the new library building.

“I want to give this check (to the city) for debt reduction,” Lanaux said. “It’s not a lot, but we have some more coming.”

• Heard a report by Councilwoman Quinn on downtown parking issues.

“We’re trying to figure out where everybody’s going to park,” Quinn said.

She pointed to the approximately 80 parking places that will be lost during construction of the parking deck for the Hampton Inn and other parking problems in the downtown area.

She chaired a committee on the problem that met with several city officials. Those meetings resulted in the report that outlined a number of possible parking options.

The council decided to review the proposals and consider the matter at its January meeting.

• Heard a request by local resident Mike Perkins for the city to adopt an ordinance to require that applicants for construction site plans be required to provide flood-prone maps for the project.

“I simply want an ordinance that says you must determine flood elevations before you begin construction,” Perkins said. “How can we go ahead and approve construction if it’s not required.”

The council directed the planning department to report back regarding the matter at a council meeting early next year.

• Approved a site plan by Jade Consulting LLC located on the east side of Greeno Road and south of Gayfer Avenue for an approximately 5,000-square-foot office building with 41 parking spaces.

“I’m happy to announce that the city has taken into consideration the crown of the tree, and it will not be touched,” said Mims, referring to a live oak tree on the property with a 70-inch diameter. 

• Approved the contract on a bid submitted by Source Data Products for a city computer system upgrade in the amount of $34,781.

• Approved a 48-month lease on a bid submitted by E-Z Go Textron for 70 new golf carts and other vehicles for Quail Creek Golf Course in the amount of $5,168.

• Heard a report on accounts payable for the city in the following amounts: general, $325,807; gas, $233,908; electric, $1,263,366; water and sewer, $179,719; golf, $37,852; and capital projects, $28,604.

• Approved the minutes for the Nov. 26 meeting.

• Announced that the next meeting would be 5:30 p.m., Dec. 20.