City to Expand Pilgrim Street Project With Added Improvements
John Mullen • November 3, 2025
Joint meeting to cover zoning, mining rules and park grants
Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley is looking to add more than $200,000 to a project extending Pilgrim Street. City planners are hoping to add decorative lights, street lights, curb gutters and sidewalks along the extension. Pilgrim Street currently runs south from Franklin Avenue to East Jefferson Avenue.
The city council will discuss the change at a joint regular/work session on Nov. 3 in council chambers at city hall.
Originally, $600,000 was budgeted for the project but with the additional costs for the new lights and other items brings the project total to $811,470.
The council will also have an organizational meeting to seat the new council following August elections including reelection of incumbent councilmembers Wayne Trawick and Charles Ebert III. Mayor Ralph Hellmich and councilmember Roddy Burke were unopposed and Timothy Lower defeated incumbent Vera Quaites. Council member Larry Engel won the seat vacated by Rick Blackwell who did not run.
During the joint regular/work session, the council will discuss:
- Amending the city zoning ordinance including a public hearing on the proposed change related to “location of mechanical systems including screening and dumpster enclosures.” This will be an introduction of the proposed change.
- An amendment to change the zoning ordinance to regulate mining and quarrying operations including a public hearing. This will be the second reading even though the ordinance change was passed on the first reading.
- An ordinance change with a public hearing to set the axle limit for Park Avenue between South Hickory Street and South Pine Street. This will be the second reading even though the ordinance change was passed on the first reading.
- Another ordinance change regarding the designation of a zoning administrator and planning director. This will be the second reading even though the ordinance change was passed on the first reading.
- Increasing the price for downtown decorative lighting to improve the bulbs to “heavy duty” increasing the cost by $27,000 to $70,000.
- Declaring two trucks in the Parks and Recreation Department as surplus.
- Amending the pay classification plan for the reorganization of the revenue division and the Street Department.
- Purchasing a new Polaris ATV for the Nature Parks Department for $15,117 and declaring the old one as surplus.
- Waiving the fees for the use of Heritage Park for Tyler Higginbotham for the Caroling in the Park on Dec. 22 from 5-10 p.m.
- Soliciting bids for furniture for the new library with a budgeted amount of $500,000. The new library project has a total price tag of $22 million.
- Setting a public hearing to consider zoning ordinance amendments. No details were in the agenda on the proposed changes.
- Accepting a proposal from Capstone Engineering Group on design services for the State Route 59 sidewalk project. It will be from East Orchid Avenue to East Section Avenue to add a section from where the sidewalk ends at East Orchid south to connect with a path at East Section. The design services contract is for $260,000.
- Approving going to bid for an extension of Industrial Park Road east of the Foley Beach Express. Projected cost is $70,000.
- Applying for a bulletproof vest partnership grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.
- Approving or denying a business license application for the sale of non-consumable hemp products. No other details were provided in the agenda.
- Applying for the Walmart Spark Local Good Grant. According to Walmart.org, local stores will provide grants from $250-$5,000 “designed to support local organizations that meet the unique needs of the communities where we operate.”
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