FAIRHOPE, Ala. — One day after the Fairhope Courier reported that some city employees might be violating Fairhope’s “take-home vehicle” policy because they live outside the police jurisdiction, Mayor Tim Kant issued a memorandum raising the same question.

“City Administrator (Gregg Mims) gave me a list of current employees taking home city vehicles,” Kant stated in his March 18 memo addressed to all municipal employee supervisors. “After reviewing the list, apparently there are a number of employees who are violating the city’s ‘take-home’ policy which is attached to this memo for your review.”

Section 8.10 of the city’s personnel manual states that “take-home vehicles” are “available only to employees living inside the City’s police jurisdiction.” The personnel manual also states that changes in its rules require approval in writing by the mayor followed by City Council adoption.

Kant’s March 18 memo listed a number of city employees able to take a vehicle home, but also stated that “if any of the above lists do not live in the Police Department Jurisdiction, please review Section 8.10 of the City Handbook Rules and Policies. Within 30 days, all City staff should be following these rules set forth by the City handbook. …

“Family members or non-employee(s) riding in City vehicles must be approved by Department Head as to need.”

On March 17, the Fairhope Courier reported that 16 city employees who have take-home vehicles live outside Fairhope’s police jurisdiction, apparently in violation of city law, including Mims, who lives in Gulf Shores. That reporting was based on the city’s response to a public records request by the newspaper. It could not be determined by press time whether that number of 16 matched the list of employees Kant said might be in violation of the city’s take-home vehicle policy.

“I started looking at the City vehicles when someone needed to rent a car after being in an accident,” Kant stated to the Courier by e-mail on March 16. “On Feb. 8, I sent a memo to the City Administrator to review which informed him of who was only authorized to take vehicles home. Now I am in the process of making sure everyone complies with the Council’s rules.”

Kant’s draft memo in February and the one issued under his initials on March 18 are identical and state that the only employees able to take a city vehicle home are the city administrator, general superintendent, gas superintendent, electric superintendent, public works superintendent, (information technology) director, police chief, 35 sworn police officers and weekly standby utility employees.

In Kant’s March 16 e-mail to the Courier he stated that he had given permission for a take-home vehicle to IT Director Jason Colee, who lives in Spanish Fort, and that he had also given permission to Mims.

He did not state whether that approval had been made in writing and subsequently adopted by the council, pursuant to Section 1.04 of the City of Fairhope Personnel Rules, Policies and Procedures.

“It is clear that the existing provision in the handbook limits take home vehicles to the city of Fairhope police jurisdiction,” wrote Mims in a Feb. 9 memo to Kant. “However, I feel there is a compelling case to allow more flexibility in the take-home rule.”

Mims stated in that memo that public safety employes such as police officers were included among that group requiring more policy flexibility.

“I believe that vehicles assigned to specific employees are better maintained and result in overall savings to the city,” Mims also wrote in his Feb. 9 memo. “Finally about three years ago you approved the use of my city vehicle for take-home use. I am thankful for that decision.

“However, as I indicated to you yesterday, I will abide by your decision or any amendment of the handbook as approved by the City Council. My only request is (if) changed, I would request a minimum of a 90-day notice. I appreciate the opportunity to review the draft memorandum.”

On Monday, Council President Lonnie Mixon stated that a council-appointed committee is reviewing the take-home vehicle issue, which he expects will make a recommendation to the council in the near future.