Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – During its Jan. 23 regular council session, the Gulf Shores City Council will consider approving a temporary use permit for the Scott Bridge to place temporary office buildings to coordinate construction of the state’s new bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway.

Those two offices would be located at 22171 Cotton Creek Drive just east of where the road heading north of the new bridge will intersect Cotton Creek. During the meeting, the council will also discuss reinstituting the beach alcohol ban for spring break started in 2016.

“Zach Chastain, representing Scott Bridge Company, seeks approval of a temporary office use to house a project office trailer for ALDOT and a project office trailer for Scott Bridge Company, to facilitate the construction of the new ALDOT Vehicular Bridge and roadway,” a memo from Planning and Community Director Lee Jones says.

After consultation with city staffers on how to best place the trailers on the site, it was determined they would be placed close to the road where a “curb cut” already exists to the property and there’s a small gravel area for parking. The trailers will be 12-feet wide and 56-feet long and the area will be screened by an eight-foot, mesh-filled fence.

Jones and staff recommended in his memo that the temporary offices for the project be approved.

On Oct. 18, The Baldwin Bridge Company, owners of the toll bridge in Orange Beach, filed suit against Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper citing several complaints about his actions in negotiations with the company. Ultimately, the suit asks for an “injunction issue prohibiting constructing the proposed new bridge.” It also asks for compensatory damages from the alleged abuses by Cooper. The suit was filed in the Montgomery County Circuit.

“ALDOT Director John Cooper has been on a mission to destroy BCBC’s

contractual rights and to force BCBC out of business,” the suit alleges. “Unfortunately, his tactics – carried out with taxpayer funds and from his position as an appointed state official in Montgomery – have caused and will continue to cause BCBC irreparable harm and damage.”

ALDOT spokesman Tony Harris countered saying the lawsuit will waste taxpayer money to defend the lawsuit and could halt an important and needed infrastructure project to help with traffic in the resort area.

“Any delay will only exacerbate the traffic problems on the Gulf Coast and hurt the people of Baldwin County,” Harris said. “Like the many Alabamians and visitors who are tired of sitting in traffic on Alabama’s coast, we look forward to the completion of the free, public bridge.”

The state’s target date for completion of the bridge is Jan. 1.

During the meeting, the council will also consider:

• A resolution to amend the certificate of the incorporation of the city parks and recreation board to allow the board to proceed with issuing lease bonds to fund additional amenities at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex. Shawn Weaver, owner of Pleasure Island Volleyball Club, would has proposed constructing and operating a multisport facility on Sportsplex property.

• Granting a special retail liquor license to WatervilleUSA and setting a public hearing for Jan. 23 on the application. The license would be for more than 30 days.

• Reappointing Erin Kaiser to another term on the Board of Zoning Adjustments. Her term ends Jan. 23 and the new term would run through Jan. 7.

• Awarding a bid to McElhenny Construction for $550,000 to build a new mast-arm traffic signal and pedestrian crosswalk at West Second Street and Fort Morgan Road. The project’s goal is to improve traffic circulation and protected pedestrian movement across Fort Morgan Road.

• Authorizing the engineering department to apply for an Alabama Department of Transportation Rebuild Alabama Act grant for street resurfacing in the city. If successful, the grant will provide $250,000 for the project bringing the total for resurfacing to $1.45 million. The city would have to provide $45,000 in matching funds to cover construction, engineering and inspection services for the project.

• Consider awarding the snack concessions contract to Vending Concepts to enhance offerings during seasonal sporting events. The company offered to give the city 21 percent of gross revenues which is estimated to be about $50,000 in city revenue. Vending Concepts is owned by Ryan Beebe whose family also has owned Beebe’s Pest Control since 1979.

• Discuss an assembly permit for We Run This Beach Marathon on Feb. 25-26 with a 5K and 10K runs on Saturday and a half marathon and marathon on Sunday of that weekend. The Feb. 25 races will start and finish at the Lake Shelby picnic area and the Feb. 26 races will start and finish at the Gulf State Park pavilion on the beach.

• Consider an assembly permit for the spring Music at Meyer concerts on March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13 from 6-8 p.m. each Thursday. The lineup has not yet been determined.

• Consider another assembly permit for the Sun Conference Beach Volleyball championships at West Gulf Place. Eight teams will be competing for the title on April 7-8.