Gulf Shores, Ala. –(OBA) – The new Justice Center planned for Gulf Shores is taking another step toward reality as awarding the $20.9 million facility is among items to be discussed at the Jan. 27 council work session. The council will meet at 4 p.m. at city hall on Monday.

Note: The Gulf Shores City Council Meeting was rescheduled to next week due to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and the winter storm.

“This facility will combine the police department, jail, and municipal courts under one roof,” a memo from Capital Projects Director Clint Colvin states. “This project will provide significant enhancements for the police department, providing a modern up-to-date facility that will adequately fulfill the needs of the department. This project will completely renovate the Sacred Heart Building for the courts and police department, and the jail will be added to the rear of the building.”

The Sacred Heart building had been originally considered for the South Baldwin Regional Hospital’s freestanding ER, but eventually, officials decided to build an entirely new facility.

Bids were opened on Jan. 14 and Persons Services, an industrial contractor from Mobile had the lowest conforming bid.

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• Adopting the amendments to the 2024 International Building Codes.
• Authorizing a $2.2 million contract with Neel-Schaffer for construction engineering and inspection on the pedestrian bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway east of Tacky Jacks.
• Authorizing a contract with Sawgrass Consulting to design a new driveway for the Auburn University Veterinary Clinic to align with a proposed traffic signal and entrance to the new Gulf Shores High School. 
• Authorizing city staff to pursue a $249,425 grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation from the Rebuild Alabama road fund to be applied to resurfacing projects in the city. A city match of $44,800 for construction engineering and inspection will be required.
• Approving the results from a surplus property auction conducted in September.
• Approving a landscape and irrigation plan for the new commercial terminal being built at the Gulf Shores International Airport from WAS Design for $22,300.
• A public assembly permit for the Women’s Care Medical Center Walk for Life on March 15 at Sims Park from 8-10 a.m.
• A public assembly permit for the Shaka Beach Bash volleyball tournament on March 28-30 on the beach near Gulf Place.