Foley Opens Bids for First Responder Safe Room Project
John Mullen • December 15, 2025
Facility would provide 10,000 square feet of shelter
Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley opened bids on a new first responder safe room for tropical and other disasters on Dec. 4. Roy Lewis Construction won the contract with a bid of $39.7 million. The facility will be able to house up to 200 people in a 10,000-square-foot space.
The city council will consider the bid at a joint regular/work session on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.
The council voted to solicit bids at its Oct. 6 meeting and received 11 proposals to build the safe room. City Administrator Michael Thompson said the city hopes to start construction in January with a target opening date set for spring of 2027. See related story: Foley First Responder Safe Room Moving Forward
During the joint regular/work session, the council will also:
- Hear resolutions from State Rep. Francis Holk-Jones (R-Foley) for former councilwoman Vera Quaites as well as Rick Blackwell and Richard Dayton.
- Consider accepting the 2025 Comprehensive Plan that “responds to … challenges with a robust, future-ready strategy that aligns land use, mobility, public investment, and community identity within a coordinated framework.”
- Approve spending $10.9 million for goods and services in November.
- Hear a report from Community Development showing 12 permits for single-family homes were issued in November and there were no new permits for multi-family buildings or commercial projects.
- Receive a report showing the police department processed 253 inmates through the city jail in November. Crimes reported include 14 for simple assault domestic violence and 10 for shoplifting. There were three death investigations in the month and police were dispatched for service 2,814 times.
- Receive a report from the fire department showing the crews responded 51 times to assist an invalid, 43 times to assist EMS crews, 35 times to motor vehicle accidents without injuries and 17 times to motor vehicle accidents with injuries and 17 times crews were called out but canceled enroute. Crews were called 242 times in November.
- Discuss an ordinance to change the speed limit on Marlin Place.
- Discuss a liquor license for the Corner Market at 1235 S. McKenzie St.
- Discuss amending the pay classification plan in the Sanitation Department.
- Consider approving the purchase of new furniture for the new Public Works campus costing $260,983.
- Discuss setting a public hearing to declare vacant property at 22313 Miflin Road as a public nuisance and order its cleanup.
- Hear a request to amend the Sanitation Department’s budget for property damages caused by drivers in the FELS.
- Consider approving a maintenance contract for the city’s IT server room for $16,274.
- Discuss approving a bid of $39,900 to Del-Con for site work and installation of utilities for the bathroom building at Aaronville Park.
- Consider approving funds for additional public safety system cameras in the city. The agenda didn’t state where the new cameras will be placed.
- Discuss using gas tax funds from the state to modernize traffic signals on Miflin Road or County Road 20 and State Route 161 or the Foley Beach Express.
- Consider awarding the bid for phase one of the Miflin Road access improvement project including new lighting from Riviera Utilities to Sawgrass Consulting. Sawgrass will also provide construction engineering and inspection on the project. Foley has budgeted $700,000 for the project and expects to spend $675,353.
- Discuss approving decorative light installations by Riviera Utilities for the Chicago Street streetscape project costing $23,503 of the expected total of $500,000 for the project.
- Consider paying Goodwyn, Mills and Cawood $10,500 to survey for two lots on Fern Avenue for the site of a future fire station.
- Discuss waiving the fees for the use of Heritage Park for the Gift of Giving by IPUL fundraising event. The agenda didn’t list the day of the fundraiser.
- Consider reappointing Derrick Perdue as an alternate member to the Board of Adjustments and Appeals.
- Discuss reallocating funds to cover a $125,733 change order for the site work on the new library. The total for site work is $2.1 million.
- Consider setting a public hearing to declare weeds at the northeast corner of County Road 20 and South Hickory Street as a public nuisance and order its cleanup.
- Consider setting a public hearing to declare 217 W. Roosevelt Ave. to be a public nuisance and order its cleanup. Items have been left in the right-of-way that need to be moved.
- Consider setting a public hearing to declare 510 E. Myrtle Ave. as a public nuisance and order its cleanup.
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