ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — At the second quarter Orange Beach public forum on April 28, residents got the chance to fire questions at the man in charge of the Foley Beach Express toll bridge.

CEO of American Roads, Neil Belitsky, stepped into the light and fielded concerns from residents. American Roads, the company that owns the toll bridge, has been under scrutiny from the locals due to a recent toll increase and what they see as a failure to recognize resident’s needs.

“The bridge is the front door to the Orange Beach community and that is something that we don’t take lightly,” Belitsky said in his opening statements to the crowd. “We are proud to be the front door of the community and we’ll try to be a good neighbor in the community.”

Statements from bridge manager Chris Musgrove included the company’s participation in charities like the American Cancer Society, the United Way and the Alabama Gulf Coast Convention and Visitors Bureau Sports Commission.

Despite their attempt to show the company’s positive participation in the community, residents wanted answers. The heaviest question was the residents’ inquiry of better treatment.

Resident Dave Johnson, who said he has tried previously to get an answer from the company for his question, quizzed Belitsky and his team about allowing qualified voters to get free passes.

“That’s not going to happen,” Belitsky answered. However he did offer a meeting with the mayor to discuss a better rate for Orange Beach residents.

A second resident quoted the contract between the city and American Roads, negotiated under a previous mayor, council and company, which prompted Mayor Tony Kennon to explain the contract was not negotiated in the city’s best interest.

The rate of payback to the city, for their multimillion-dollar loan, is done so by the amount of cars that cross the bridge. Kennon explained the system of triggers, rather than a sliding scale has made it hard for the city to come out ahead.

There is also no restriction on the amount of the toll, he explained. Although residents show concern and disapproval of the toll booth and its rising rates, Belitsky said the numbers show otherwise.

“Orange Beach residents are the primary users of the bridge,” Belitsky said. “And Orange Beach resident use of the bridge has increased every year since 2007.”

But a show of hands throughout the Orange Beach Community Center on Tuesday night showed many people are driving around and taking the Dr. WC Holmes Bridge on Highway 59.

Even though residents are crossing the bridge the most, contrary to what the informal survey revealed, Belitsky said the bridge’s success or demise lies greatly in tourists.

However, Belitsky did say the economic crisis has led to a drop in use identical to the reduction of visitors.