BAY MINETTE — A little inconvenience and a lot of patience will be needed over the next couple of weeks as numerous railroad crossings in the city are improved, but the outcome will be worth the hassle, Bay Minette Mayor Jamie Tillery said.

Public Works Supervisor Lamar Hadley addressed the City Council during its work session Tuesday night regarding a project between the city and CSX to improve railroad crossings throughout the city.

"(CSX) will begin on the main track Monday (Feb. 1)," Hadley said. He said the crossings at Hoyle Avenue, Dobson Avenue and Pine Road will be dismantled during Phase 1 of the project.

"All but Hand Avenue will be torn up at one time. They'll come back and tear that one up once the rest are done," he said. Residents will need to use the Hand Avenue crossing during that time.

Hadley said CSX officials indicated each crossing would take about two days to complete. "It will probably take about 10 to 12 days to complete all of those," he said.

After the main crossings are complete, the crossings at Powell Heights and Brady Road will also be resurfaced.

Hadley said CSX will fund the main line crossings and will furnish the tie work on the Powell Heights and Brady Road crossings, while the city will furnish the blacktop for those two.

Improvements are also being made to the aesthetic appeal of the city through the trimming of trees throughout town. Tillery said while the view may not be very appealing now, "they will bloom out healthy in the Spring."

As Spring approaches, so does the opening of baseball season. Tillery delivered a message to the Baseball Board via Councilmen Mike Phillips, district 2, and Johnny Biggs, district 3, heralding the beginning of the season, committing continued support from the city and asking for support from league members and supporters.

"It has been a priority of our city to promote and encourage baseball through its many endeavors of ground maintenance, electricity and facility upkeep and repairs," she stated in a letter to the board.

"We also know that the league and its governing board wishes to cooperate and encourage the best use of these facilities and funds that are provided by our taxpayers.

"As plans are made for the upcoming season, we want to promote the wise use of electricity, care of the fields and clean-up of the viewing stands," she said. "We are aware that the rising costs in electricity make wise use of practice time and game scheduling a monetary precedent."

Tillery commended the coaches and baseball board members on their efforts to "plan with cost-saving measures and support (of) actions that assure a successful game season through wise spending.

"It is with anticipation that we await the first pitch and the sounds of the excited children as they enjoy this All-American sport right here at home," she said.