ROBERTSDALE, Ala. — The City of Robertsdale voted unanimously at its regular meeting Monday to contract with JA Dawson and Co. to provide materials for the city’s proposed splash pad, which is set to open next summer at Garrett Park.

The company, headquartered in Pelham with regional offices in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., will provide fixtures at a projected cost of $81,000, and will act as a consultant on the project, which will be conducted by the city’s public works department.

After a pair of public meetings on the proposed water park, which will be located at the corner of Pennsylvania Street and Park Drive at the entrance to Garrett Park, Council members voted unanimously at the Oct. 3 meeting to move forward with plans for the 2,000 square foot facility, which has a projected budget of $135,000 for 2012.

Council members voted unanimously at the October meeting to choose a baseball theme over railroad and farming for the facility. The company has also incorporated a bear, the local schools’ mascot, into the design of the facility.

Mayor Charles Murphy said Monday that plans to increase the water pressure required for the pad, while fixing an issue with water pressure along Hammond Street, have already been completed for the project.

Murphy said a decision to use a product called cool deck, rather than rubber, cut projected costs for decking on the project in half, allowing the city to spend more money on fixtures for the project. The city also plans to build restroom and changing facilities from concrete block.

Because JA Dawson is a state-approved contractor, the city does not have to bid out the project, Murphy said. The city will have to bid out for concrete work for walkways on the project and will contract out work on the cool decking, Murphy said.

Plans are to have the project completed and ready to open by May 2012, Murphy said.

In other business, the council voted unanimously to pass Ordinance No. 003-11 rezoning 1.62 acres on U.S. Highway 90 for the construction of a retail store.

The council tabled the measure at its Oct. 17 meeting because of concerns over proposed turn lanes coming off the highway, which is maintained by the Alabama Department of Transportation.

Officials from the Broadway Group, owners of the property, said Monday that a traffic study has been conducted by the Alabama DOT and the group will comply with any suggestions made by the state.

During a public hearing Oct. 17 several residents expressed concerns over the use of the property, which encompasses 22 acres off of Highway 90. Residents expressed concerns about flooding on the property and the possibility that those problems would be made worse by additional development. Concerns were also expressed over construction of a privacy fence surrounding the property.

The city’s Planning Commission recommended rezoning the property with the stipulation that a privacy fence, which property owners said Monday they have agreed to.

In other business Monday the council”

• Voted to allow the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce free access to the Baldwin County Coliseum Jan. 18 and 19 for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting.

• Voted to renew the city’s contract with the Central Baldwin Education Foundation at a cost of $2,500.

• Approved a request by the Public Works Department to surplus miscellaneous items.

• Voted to purchase three vehicles for the city’s Police Department at a cost of $27,000 per vehicle.

• Voted to write off $49,950.03 in uncollected utility bills.

• Passed Resolution No. 012-11 changing contributions with Retirement Systems of Alabama from after tax contributions to pre-taxed contributions.

• Voted to extend the city’s cell tower lease with Crown Castle, tower/site manager for A&T, increasing the monthly rental paid by A&T from $1,179.88 per month to $1,600 per month effective Dec. 1. The extension takes the contract through the year 2040.

• Passed a pair of resolutions accepting an EECBC grant to replace three traffic lights in Robertsdale with a more energy efficient LED lighting system. Resolution No. 013-11 approved by the council to accept the grant, while Resolution No. 014-11 passed by the council designating a grant administrator for the grant.

• Passed Resolution No. 015-11 approving a contract with Peavy Construction of Mobile continuing the city’s 2009 TE Sidewalk Project.