Gulf Shores, Ala. – (OBA) – The city is having trouble filling at least three jobs currently open including city engineer due to the resignation of Mark Acreman who left to be the Baldwin County engineer after many years with the city.

“We do not currently have the resources to conduct active recruitments for the positions of HR director, city engineer, and planning and zoning manager,” a memo from City Administrator Jonathan Walker states. “We also did not receive a high level of interest with our prior search for a city engineer. Due to these issues, Council is requested to authorize the execution of the three attached recruitment agreements for the following positions.”

At the April 1 city council work session, leaders will discuss hiring two different firms including Find Great People to hire a human resources director for 20 percent of the new hire’s salary for one year.

Walker will recommend hiring Strategic Government Resources to find a city engineer for $27,650 and a planning and zoning manager for $28,4000.

During the work session, the council will discuss:

• Declaring May 11 as Coastal Alabama Kid Entrepreneurs Day in the city in a program with the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber.
• Declaring April as child abuse prevention month in Gulf Shores.
• Reappointing Municipal Judge Frank Hollon to a term through April 16, 2024, and City Prosecutor Ken Raines to a term through April 23, 2026. Hollon is paid $61,129 and Raines $40,806 annually.
• Granting a 90-day extension on phase one of the Gulf Shores Landfill’s planned closing. The company had one year to complete phase one of five to close the landfill and that year ends on March 31. The company has a total of five years to finish closing down the facility.
• Declaring several items as surplus and authorizing the sale of the items, including three SUVs and a knuckle boom truck.
• Authorizing a city credit card for the new police department position of training officer.
• Awarding a contract for $48,650 to VitalExam for physicals for the fire department.
• A zoning text amendment to the zoning ordinance regarding boat parking at the request of the owner of Ice House Tap Room on Little Lagoon in the space formerly occupied by the Flying Harpoon.
• Approving a public assembly request for the NCAA Women’s Sand Volleyball National Championships on May 2-5 at the public beach in Gulf Shores. The tournament first came to Gulf Shores in 2016 and will move to California for two years following the 2024 event.