Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – To keep the project on time, Gulf Shores is considering several change orders on construction of the city’s new high school. Five changes are listed as either “owner directed” or “design omission.” In the end, it will add $1.5 million to the project.

The council will discuss the change orders at a council work session on Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. The council will also swear in the new council including incumbent mayor Robert Craft and council members Joe Garris, Philip Harris, Jason Dyken and Steve Jones. Jennifer Guthrie will start her term after defeating Gary Sinak in the election.

After the meeting, the council will have a meet and greet with the public at Tacky Jacks Gulf Shores from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Unless the change orders on the high school are approved, construction efforts will slow or stop until the proper parties receive reimbursement,” a memo from the Public Works Department states. “Project Management team and the city of Gulf Shores are tracking all potential and perceived error(s) and omissions and notifying (the) architect of these discrepancies.”

Related Article: Gulf Shores Names Dr. Tim Webb as New High School Principal

The school was originally priced at $131 million but is now closer to $140 million with the change orders and adding an athletics complex for $7 million. The beam structure on the new athletic facility collapsed in January and is now fully underway again.

During the meeting, the council will also:

• Consider accepting a Transportation Alternatives Program for $800,000 to install 10-foot sidewalks along West Beach Boulevard. The city’s match is $210,275 and the project total will be just more than $1 million. The sidewalk would run from West Lagoon Avenue to West 11th Street.
• Discuss reappointing Philip Harris to the Library Board to serve through Nov. 9, 2029, and Ken Kichler to the Public Education Building Authority to serve through Nov. 9, 2031. Newly elected councilmember Jennifer Guthrie will be appointed to serve out former councilmember Gary Sinak’s terms on the Beautification Board and the Library Board.
• Consider changing council meeting dates in 2026 to schedule around Martin Luther King Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and cancelling meetings on Dec. 21 and Dec. 28, 2026.
• Discuss opening a new five-year line of credit for $9.8 million with SouthState Bank at a rate of 3.89 percent replacing a previous line of credit with Cadence Bank that expired on Oct. 31.
• Consider a change in the zoning text ordinance on public notices to remove the requirement for newspaper advertising before a meeting.