Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach will begin the new year by purchasing several new vehicles and a leaf vacuum for city services. Public Works will receive the majority of the trucks, totaling $476,808. But the fire department is spending more to add two firetrucks at a total cost of more than $2 million.

The Orange Beach City Council will meet on Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. in a joint regular/work session in council chambers at City Hall. Buying the new vehicles is on the agenda for the work session and likely won’t be voted on until the next council meeting on Jan. 20.

Public Works is looking to add a Kawasaki tractor for $39,794, a Kubota track loader for $109,031, two Kubota utility vehicles for $43,744, a Kenworth dump truck for $205,000, and a leaf vacuum for $79,239, in addition to the two pumper firetrucks.

Coastal Resources is looking to buy a Ford F-350 super crew four-wheel drive truck for $68,532 and a Chevy Silverado crew cab four-wheel drive pickup.

During the regular session, the council will also discuss:

• Approving payments for goods and services of $251,112 from Dec. 18-Jan. 7.
• Declaring January as Human Trafficking Awareness Month in Orange Beach. It has been recognized statewide since 2011.
• Authorizing a $3,000 payment to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber for its annual recycling and paper shred event on Jan. 10 at Gulf State Park from 8 a.m. to noon.
• Authorizing a third amendment to the grant award with the National Audubon Society to pay the salary of the city’s nesting coordinator through April 1.
• Appointing Michael Osborn and Abbygayle Stacey to the Employees’ Leave Bank Committee, replacing Brianne Dichiara and Kristin Wong, whose terms end on Dec. 31. Osborn and Stacy’s terms will start Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 31, 2027.
• Declaring city-owned property as surplus and authorizing its sale at auction. See related story: Orange Beach to Auction Off 20+ City Vehicles
• Amending the employee pay plan/job listing to accommodate the approved 2026 budget.
• Adopt an updated fee schedule for processing and providing public records.
• Amending the ordinance on “wetland preservation and mitigation.”

During the work session, the council will also discuss:

• Appointing a member to the Orange Beach Board of Education. Those applying include Timothy Bowling, Taylor Brown, Leanne Collins, Tina D’Aversa, Sue Dale, Neeli Faulkner, Kendall Hoffman, Stephen Lewis, Ryan Long, Annette Mitchell, Carrie Morris, Angela Mott, Jason Neel, Drew Parker, Clay Tindal, Ashley Wade, and Mallory Wilkins.
• Authorizing a contract with Wetland Sciences to develop the city’s portion of the mouse habitat conservation plan for $53,100.
•  Amending a grant award from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council to complete the expansion of the Orange Beach Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education program.
• Appointing a committee for AMERICA250AL to help the city and state celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• Authorize a contract with Sawgrass Consulting for civil engineering and land surveying services. The council will then discuss a contract with Sawgrass to do a property survey on the site for the proposed civic center. It will be located on city property in the south side of Canal Road near the roundabout.
•  A contract with GeoCon Engineering & Materials Testing to provide geotechnical testing and engineering services for the new pickleball courts for $9,000.