Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach will consider awarding a bid for installation of new lights on the baseball and softball fields at the Sportsplex. This will be in addition to new turf on both of those fields as well as the soccer/football stadium at the complex. The turf fields were added in 2023. The first artificial turf went in at the softball field, followed by the baseball field.

The council will discuss awarding the bid at its May 6 joint regular/work session at 5 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. The bid for the lighting from Armstrong Electrical Contractors will cost $142,159.

Orange Beach spent $517,890 for artificial turf materials and $447,320 for the material for the softball field.

During the regular session, the council will also discuss:

• Approving checks paid for goods and services from April 17 to May 7.
• Declaring May as Mental Health Month in the city.
• An ordinance change to allow the rezoning of a lot in Village of Tannin, once designated for a fire station to allow for residential use.
• A 30-day liquor license for Festiva on Canal at 26831 Canal Road.
• An agreement with Zapp Software for art jury processing software for the 2025 Freedom Fest, the 2026 Seafood Festival and the 2026 Festival of Art for $1,800.
• A contract with Coastal Cats and Critters to house and care for up to 50 feral cats removed from active beach mouse habitats in an 18-month agreement for $25,000.
• A similar contract with the Safe Harbor Animal Coalition to provide $25,000 to assist in trapping, neutering and removing feral cats from beach mouse habitats, also in an 18-month agreement.
• Hiring Goodwyn, Mills & Cawood to perform a discharge information zone study for the wastewater treatment plant for $54,435.
• Authorizing a pipeline right-of-way with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for access to operate and maintain sanitary and storm sewers.
• Appointing Grant Nichols to the Board of Adjustment.
• Authorizing an agreement with Verified First for human resources background checks. The council will also consider a contract with NeoGov for software to integrate the background checks for $3,275 for one year.
• Authorizing the city to raise funds for the Baldwin County Child Advocacy Center.
• Buying two Ford pickup trucks for Public Works from Stivers Ford Lincoln for $114,824. They are a 2024 F-250 super crew four-by-four and a 2024 F-550 super crew.
• Authorizing the purchase of three vehicles for the police department for a total of $144,243.
• A public hearing on a rezoning request for Ron and Darlene Twilley to change the zoning of the lot at 28226 Canal Road from general business to single-family residential.
• A public hearing on another Community Development request to amend the section of the zoning ordinance regarding density calculations and wetlands, wetland setbacks and conservation easement areas.
• A public hearing on a request from Community Development asking the city council to amend the section of the zoning ordinance on parking requirements for auto repair and service centers and car washes.
• An ordinance declaring city-owned property as surplus and a ground lease agreement with the Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County.

During the work session, the council will discuss:

• Allowing a temporary trailer at 22801 Canal Road west of the entrance to The Wharf entertainment and dining complex. It will be used for employee shelter and will be on-site for six months per the resolution.
• Buying an access control system for the police department for $59,228 from Vision Security Technologies. The council will also consider buying a video surveillance system for the police department for $63,057 from Vision.
• A contract with Southern Software for services on inmate records and jail management for $319,669.
• Establishing fees for using the Orange Beach Shooting Complex, including a discount for the Orange Beach Middle/High School trap and skeet team.
• An automatic aidd agreement with Escambia County, Florida, to help in structure fires as needed.
• Mutual aid agreements with Bay Minette and Coastal Community College for law enforcement and other public safety services.
• Awarding Assistant Police Robert Howard and Officer Kenneth Clouse with their duty weapons and badge as part of retirement benefits.
• Amending the employee pay plan and job listings to add the positions of industrial maintenance electrician and senior human resources generalist.
• Awarding the proposal for a strategic and comprehensive plan contractor.
• An agreement with the Pensacola and Perdido Bays Estuary Program for marine debris volunteer coordination, trash removal and planting trees.
• Purchasing a Freightliner dump truck for the Utilities Department from Empire Truck Sales for $128,500.
• A contract with Foth Infrastructure and Environment for annual engineered beach monitoring for $54,800.
• An agreement with Alicia Arrington to be a special needs aide in the Expect Excellence Program.
• Accepting ownership of the Bear Point Cemetery.
• Declaring real property owned by the city as surplus and selling it to the Wharf Landing for $180,500.
• A reminder of a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance change to allow for two buildings for Bayside Garages on Pelican Place east of Lauder Road, for two buildings totaling 28,000 square feet.