Orange Beach to Discuss Ending Beach Express Bridge Agreement
John Mullen • May 7, 2024
Also Under Consideration is a Proposal to Rezone Bama Bayou Development
Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The city will discuss formally ending its relationship with the Baldwin County Bridge Company at a joint regular/work session of Orange Beach City Council at 5 p.m. on May 7 at city hall in council chambers.
The state announced in April it was buying the bridge from BCBC and ending toll collections sometime in May. This concludes the agreement where the city would receive a per car fee from the company that began in March of 2004.
For the first 10 years of operating the bridge, the city paid the bridge company $1.2 million and received the per-car fee to help offset the loan. In each of the 10 years except one, 2007, the city incurred a deficit, the highest being $774,466 in 2010.
Beginning in 2014, the city’s yearly obligation ended and the per-car fee went directly into city coffers. The city collected a total of $19.1 million through 2023 and subtracting the original $12 million, the city has netted about $7.1 million in revenue from the toll bridge. In the first two months of 2024, the city has collected $209,699.
During the regular session, the council will also discuss:
- Approving $3.5 million paid to vendors for goods and services April 18 through May 8.
- Declaring May as Mental Health Awareness Month in the city.
- A second reading and public hearing of an ordinance to revert the failed Bama Bayou planned unit development to its original zoning of general business.
- Approving 2022 audited financials.
- Approving a contract with Wilde Design for Wildlife Center for $9,000 to design outdoor enclosures. The new center is on city property west of Fire Station No. 3 and adjacent to Gulf State Park.
- Authorizing Orange Beach to join the state and other local governments as a participant in settlements with opioid settlements.
- 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.
- Declaring a 2002 Dodge van as surplus and authorizing the donation of it to the Alabama Gulf Coast Zoo.
- Authorizing a taxi franchise for Ryan Ahearn to operate Perdido Key Party Bus shuttle service in the city limits and police jurisdiction.
- A resolution approving a wetland permit for the CoastAL employee parking lot behind Walgreens.
- Declaring exercise equipment owned by the city as surplus and donating it to city schools. The equipment includes seven treadmills and four elliptical machines.
- Awarding the bide for two message boards for the police department to C&H Construction Services for $35,800.
- Authorizing a subaward grant from Restore Act money to pay for a stormwater master plan for the city for $250,000.
- Approving the submission of the 2023 water pollution prevention annual report to the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.
- An ordinance change and public hearing regarding water recreational rentals.
- A public hearing for an ordinance amendment regarding charter boat home occupations.
- A public hearing for an ordinance amendment on highway frontage requirements on the north side of State Route 180 from Oak Street to William Silvers Parkway.
During the work session, the council will discuss:
- 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 a performance contract with Joan Hill for water aerobics instruction at the Aquatics Center.
- 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.
Share this article w/ Friends...
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Baldwin County has opened a free cooling center in Foley in response to dangerous heat affecting the area. The center is at St. Paul's Episcopal Church Parish Hall, 506 N. Pine St., Foley. It will be open Monday and Tuesday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pets are welcome, provided they remain under their
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Whether you’re a local hunting for something fresh or a visitor eager to make the most of your beach holiday, you’ve come to the right place. This week’s lineup is full of adventures that make the Alabama Gulf Coast unforgettable–hands-on animal encounters, free family fun under the stars,
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The Gulf Shores City Council will meet to address a packed agenda of municipal resolutions, public infrastructure updates, and local tourism initiatives. The meeting's formal presentations will open with Pastor Jim Kinder of Orange Beach Church, who will deliver the invocation, followed by
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — The Salty Kidz Rodeo is returning to Gulf State Park Pier. Organizers say they cannot wait to welcome families to the Gulf Coast. The annual event has become a beloved tradition for families in the area. This year promises an exciting day of fishing, fun, and lasting memories.
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Gulf of Mexico is an ecosystem defined by its resilience, having endured one of the most significant man-made environmental disasters in history: the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Beginning on April 20, 2010, this catastrophic event released nearly 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gul
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Registered voters in Baldwin County Voting Precinct 61 are receiving updated voter information cards. The precinct is in the Foley area. The update follows a name change at the precinct’s polling place. County officials said the physical voting site has not changed.
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores will host the 19th annual Brett/Robinson Alabama Coastal Triathlon in September. Organized by Magic Sports USA, the event draws athletes from across the region to compete along the Alabama Gulf Coast. Racers can choose sprint and Olympic distances, as well as relay formats for t
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Foley is getting a much larger, more feature-rich public library at a new location on East Orange Avenue. The new facility will offer residents twice the space of the current building and bring a wide range of new services and programs to the community. A grand opening celebration is planned in A
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Solid Waste Disposal Authority of Baldwin County has opened a new Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials in Orange Beach. The facility is the third CHaRM location the authority has launched since August 2025 and is also the largest of the three currently operating in the county. The open
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — A new multi-year scientific study has found that the Gulf of America holds roughly twice as many greater amberjack as federal fisheries managers have estimated. The research, which used the same methods developed for the landmark Great Red Snapper Count, involved 11 institutions across the
