Orange Beach Council to Discuss Key Issues in May 21 Meeting

John Mullen • May 21, 2024

Council to Vote on Water Rentals, F-150 Purchase, and More

Orange Beach City Council Stock Photo

Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Orange Beach City Council will convene for a joint regular/work session on May 21 at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at city hall. The agenda for the regular session includes a variety of items such as a report on city expenditures totaling $2.5 million, a presentation by Ally Mavar, the Orange Beach contestant in the Miss Alabama Volunteer Scholarship Pageant, and the consideration of proclamations for National Cities, Towns and Villages Month and Building Safety Month. 


The council will also deliberate on authorizing a taxi franchise, second readings of water-related ordinances, awarding a police officer his retirement benefits, and several contracts and bids, including the purchase of a 2024 Ford F-150 XLT for the police department. The work session will cover additional topics such as bids for the Justice Center roof replacement, appointments to the Construction Board, legal service contracts, and various authorizations related to city operations and community programs. 


During the regular session, the council will:

  • Hear a report on the latest checks written for goods and services for the city and a total of $2.5 million.
  • See a presentation by Ally Mavar the Orange Beach contestant in the Miss Alabama Volunteer Scholarship Pageant. Her theme is Alleviating Food Insecurity.
  •  Consider declaring May as National Cities, Towns and Villages Month.
  • Consider declaring May as Building Safety Month.
  • Discuss authorizing a taxi franchise for Ryan Ahearn to operate the Perdido Key Party Buss in the city.
  • Have second readings and possibly a vote on two water-related ordinances regarding changing the language in the water recreation rentals. The second will remove references to charter boat home occupations.
  • Awarding officer Richard Springsteen his duty weapon and badge as part of his retirement benefits.
  • Hiring Human Resource Management to do an HR assessment for the city as well as conduct an executive search for a Human Resources Director.
  • Authorizing a rental agreement with Sharp Electronics Corp. for a copier for the Human Resources division. The three-year contract will cost $185 a month or a total of $6,670.
  • Authorizing approval of a proposed wetland application by Abaco Orange Beach on Terry Cove at the south end of Capt. Trent Lane.
  • Authorizing a performance contract with Joan Hill for water aerobics instruction at the Aquatics Center.
  • Awarding the bid for a 2024 Ford F-150 XLT pickup for the police department from Hardy Family Ford for $63,974.
  • Reducing the rental fee by 25 percent for use of the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf for the 2024 high school sports officials training session.


During the work session, the council will discuss:

  • Awarding a bid for replacing the roof and the fascia at the Justice Center and a second bid for two message boards for the police department. The bid opening date has been changed to May 16.
  • Appointing Sted McCollough to the Construction Board of Adjustment and Appeals.
  • Authorizing a contract with Renee Smith to provide legal services with the city. 
  • Declaring a drone as surplus and unneeded and donating it to Elberta High School.
  • Transferring the ownership of retiring police canines Perseus and Magnum from the city to officers Alisa Dixon and Kendall Hobbs.
  • Authorizing contracts with DeRhonda Ponder, Elizabeth Wood and Stephanie Myrick as special needs aides for the Expect Excellence program.
  • Authorizing a contract with Adams Stewart Architect for architectural services and for structural engineering consultation for a new Sea Turtle Center for $3,500.
  • A resolution to execute an amendment to the sub-award grant to add $469,150 in RESTORE money to the new Orange Beach Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Program to replace the city’s match and fund the new center with 100 percent RESTORE money.
  • Authorizing a contract with Glow Yoga for water-based fitness classes at the Wind and Water Learning Center.
  • Authorizing an agreement with the Alabama Department of Environmental Management for a grant to build a parking lot north of the Wind and Water Learning Center. It is a $780,000 project with the city providing in-kind services and cash of $311,897 and ADEM’s portion will be $467,845.
  • Declaring a tractor owned by the city as surplus and authorizing the purchase of a new on for $68,923 after trading in the old one.
  • Accepting a proposal from ECS Southeast to do a ground penetrating radar delineation survey for the Orange Beach Cemetery for $7,500.
  • Establishing fees for the Orange Beach Swim Team summer league program.
  • Authorizing a right-of-way use franchise with C-Spire to provide services in the city.
  • Accepting a proposal from Jackson and Smith CPA Group for auditing services.

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