Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – During October, Foley opened bids for the construction of a new library and the winning bid was turned in by White-Spunner Construction coming in below the projected $20 million cost at $17.9 million.

The city council will meet in a joint regular/work session on Nov. 18 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

City Administrator Mike Thompson said in December the library would be the “most expensive building we’ve ever built in Foley.”

“We want an iconic building that, when people drive by, they see it, and they want to go there, and it becomes a gathering place, a community place,” Thompson said in a press release.

In March of 2023, the city accepted a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to help with the construction of the new Foley library.

The council will also review bids for rye grass at the meeting with the low bidder being SiteOne Landscape at $37,934.

During the combined regular/work session, the council will:

• Consider approving bills paid in October totaling $12.8 million.
• Review a report on taxes collected in October including $3 million to start the fiscal year in October or $100,000 less than 2024 and $200,000 below budget projections. The city collected $128,963 in lodging taxes in October or about $2,400 less than 2024 and about $12,000 less than budget projections.
• Hear a report from Community Development showing 15 building permits were issued for single-family housing with a valuation of $4.8 million and one commercial building permit for the Fresh Revelation Church was issued with a valuation of $1.6 million in October.
• Review a report on police activity in October including processing 264 inmates through the city jail upping the total for the calendar year to 2,379. Reports were received on 13 thefts and 11 simple assault domestic violence incidents. There were 31 arrests for possession of controlled substances, 15 for misdemeanor marijuana charges and 10 drug paraphernalia arrests. Officers were dispatched 1,917 times during October.
• Hear a report from the fire department detailing crews were called 48 times to assist an invalid, 40 times to traffic accidents without injuries, 29 times to assist EMS crews and 13 times for alarm activations where there was no fire. Crews were called out 31 and canceled en route and reported a total of 257 incidents during the month.
• Have a second reading of an ordinance to declare property in the Industrial Park as surplus and sold to Baldwin Cold Logistics to build a cold storage facility with a 30,000-square-foot freezer, a 5,000-square-foot refrigerator, 100 to 120 units ranging from 1,600 to 1,800 square feet and two-story units with warehouse and office space. According to the purchase agreement attached to the agenda, the city will get $734,000 for 14.68 acres in the park.
• Have a second reading of an ordinance approving a modification to a ground lease to Riviera Utilities at 216 E. Berry Ave.
• Consider a request for a liquor license request for El Mezquite Mexican Grill at 3820 S. McKenzie St.
• Discuss creating an account for expenses related to the city’s recent purchase of a 1941 N3N airplane display.
• Discuss approving two John Deere Gators for the Parks and Recreation department for $22,469 for the pair.
• Consider buying a commercial grade dishwasher from three bids including $4,479 from Centerline, $5,131 from Central Restaurant Products and $5,163 from Hawk. The old one will be scrapped.
• Discuss a request from OWA for fireworks displays on Nov. 23 and Dec. 28. Makeup dates, if needed, will be the following day.
• Discuss reappointing Otis Gatlin to the Construction Board of Adjustments and Appeals. His current term ends Dec. 9.
• Consider accepting a land donation from Hadley Village and Robertson Construction. The 3.10-acre parcel is a narrow strip that runs from Hadley Road south along the east side of State Route 59.
• Discuss a resolution to accept a Homeland Security grant of $25,000 for water-filled barricades for the police department.
• Discuss the appointment of council representatives to the Graham Creek Nature Preserve Advisory Board and the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce.