Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – A road project not in Foley’s 10-year plan will receive a boost from a state grant and be moved higher on the city’s priority list. An Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program grant will fund $2 million in improvements at Miflin Road (County Road 20) and the Foley Beach Express (State Route 161), as part of the new roadway and the run-up to the new bridge on the Intracoastal Waterway.

The city council will consider accepting the grant at a joint regular/work session on March 23 in the council chambers at City Hall.

Staffers will ask the council to move $450,000 from the upcoming Fern Avenue work and $500,000 from the Cedar/Oak project to meet the city match for the $950,000 grant, according to a staff report on the agenda. The Alabama Department of Transportation will lead construction of the improvements.

Growth in the area continues, as a Circle K convenience store/gas station is planned for the west side of the Foley Beach Express/State Route 161, just south of the new Publix.

The council will also consider a resolution to continue to recognize recently christened State Route 161 as the Foley Beach Express within the city limits.

During the joint regular/work session, the council will discuss:

• A report from the police department shows 244 inmates were processed through the city jail in February for a year-to-date total of 460. There were 14 arrests for simple assault, domestic violence, 12 arrests for theft, and 10 arrests for shoplifting. There were 27 arrests for controlled substances and 13 arrests for drug paraphernalia. Officers were dispatched for service 2,315 times in February.
• A report showing $2.8 million was collected in sales taxes during February or about $6,000 below 2025 and $12,000 below budget projections. Foley collected $132,132 in lodging taxes for the month or about $4,000 over 2025 and $6,000 short of budget projections.
• A report showing 41 permits were issued for single-family homes in February up from 33 in January.
• A report from the fire department showing crews were called out 42 times for lift assist, 25 times for motor vehicle collisions, 18 times for a fire alarm and 16 times crews were called out and canceled en route. Crews were called out a total of 217 times in February.
• Approving $6.1 million paid out for goods and services during February.
• A first reading and introduction to changes to the zoning ordinance including adding to the medical overlay district and adding language about tiny houses. This will include a public hearing
• A first reading and introduction of an ordinance to adopt “technical design manual governing design, development, permitting, and construction standards” in Foley and rescinding prior ordinances. This will include a public hearing.
• Applying for an Alabama Coastal Area Management Program grant for the Wolf Bay Watershed Stormwater Management Plan. Grants range from $20,000 to $50,000.
• Approving $335,000 to cover “multiple change orders” and other miscellaneous costs and expenses in the construction of the new Public Works Campus on North Poplar Street.
• Allowing the president of the Alabama Municipal Insurance Corp. to act as proxy for Foley at the group’s annual meeting in May. Foley will submit its ballot in the group’s board of directors election for the president to cast.
• Waiving fees for the use of Heritage park on Aug. 30 for Big Fish Ministries to have a Drug Overdose Awareness Day.
• A supplemental agreement from Volkert for airfield drainage improvement adding $25,000 to the $266,000 project to provide “professional services for the design, bid procurement, construction administration and oversight for an airport drainage improvement.”
• Waiving fees for Ecumenical Ministries at the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market for volunteer appreciation event on April 8 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
• Bids awarded during February including $43,697 to Moyer Ford for a four-wheel-drive pickup for the Graham Creek Nature Preserve, $71,510 to R&S Paving for resurfacing downtown parking lots, $66,038 to Bart’s Office for library moving services into the new library, $39,512 to Moyer Ford for two sports utility vehicles, $56,547 to Lander McLarty for a four-wheel-drive pickup for the Horticulture Department and a bid to NCIC for inmate phone and video kiosks. The agenda didn’t state the cost of the kiosks.
• Accepting an agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for the Wolf Bay Watershed Protection Project-Beulah Heights, with a total cost of $661,585, with the city matching $317,165 of that total.
• Appropriating funds for the construction of a State Route 59 sidewalk from East Orchid Avenue to East Section Avenue, seeking $128,000 for construction and $80,000 for lighting. The project's budget is $300,000.
• Applying for the annual Dollar General Youth Literacy grant.
• Approving an additional $2,000 for the Miflin Road access management plan to have police officers on site for the safety of the contractors.
  
  

Related Article: City of Foley Launches Work to Improve Miflin Road

• Approving an agreement with the USDA’s Cooperative Service Agreement for beaver management for $5,000.
• Approving a sponsorship for the Alabama League of Municipalities to participate in a shopping center conference and tradeshow in Las Vegas. Sponsorships are available from $750 to $5,000.
• Amending the pay classification plan in the police department and at the library.
• Setting a public hearing to declare weeds and trash at 13306 McGaster Trail as a public nuisance and order its cleanup.
• Waiving fees for the use of Max Griffin Park for the Foley Kiwanis Club International Kids Day event on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Approving an additional $12,000 for the Cedar Street phase two sidewalk project to resolve utility conflicts.
• Approving a sponsorship of the YMCA 2026 Fore the Kids Golf Classic.
• A request to solicit firms to develop a Foley Senior Center to be built west of the old Armory building behind Foley City Hall.
• Appropriating funds for the city hall exterior improvements, costing $7,421 for three steel benches and three concrete planters.
• Accepting a donation from Springdale Stores of rights-of-way next to property owned by the city on the east side of the Foley Beach Express near the Fern Avenue intersection.