Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Foley’s city council will address new rules concerning how minors check out books at the Foley Library, including guidelines for getting parental permissions before books can be checked out.

Under current rules, minors under 18 must have a signed permission form from a parent or legal guardian to initially receive a library card, but new rules will contain more restrictions and permissions from parents.

“Minors under the age of 18 must have a permission form on file, completed by a parent or legal guardian, to check out materials from the library,” the new rules state. “They may only check out materials from the collections specified on their permission form. Additionally, children aged 11 and under must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian, or responsible caregiver to check out materials.”

The council will meet in a joint work/regular session on Sept. 16 at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall. 

During the joint work/regular session, the council will:

• Have a public hearing to declare weeds at 9475 Hickory St. to be a public nuisance and order its abatement. The council will also consider a resolution to allow city employees to clean up the property.
• Have a public hearing on an ordinance change requiring a permit to work in city right of ways. The council will also consider a second reading of an ordinance establishing a fee schedule for permits to do work in city right of ways.
• Declare Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week to honor the 237th anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
• Present Main Street Foley with an Alabama Award of Excellence.
• Have an introduction of and first reading of an ordinance to exempt hearing aids and other hearing enhancement devices from city sales taxes. Gulf Shores will consider the same measure at its Sept.16 meeting.
• Receive a report on tax collections for August showing the city collected $3.7 million or about $100,000 over 2023 collections and about $233,000 below budget projections. The city collected $328,193 in lodging taxes in August or about $37,000 below 2023 collections and about $40,000 short of budget projections.
• Receive a report from the Community Development Department showing the city issued 60 building permits for single-family homes with a valuation of $18.9 million and two permits for commercial buildings with a valuation of $15.2 million. Those include the Ambulatory Surgery Center and Fast Pace Health Urgent Care Clinic.
• Hear a report from the police department showing 262 inmates were processed through the city jail in August for a total of 1874 for the fiscal year which ends Sept. 30. During the month, 14 simple assaults with domestic violence were reported, 12 incidents of shoplifting and 10 simple assaults. Officers were dispatched for service 2,074 times in the month. 
• Hear a report from the fire department showing crews provided help with invalids 57 times in August, provided medical assistance 50 times, responded to 26 traffic accidents without injuries and 11 with injuries. Crews were dispatched and canceled en route 33 times and received calls for service 258 times in the month.
• Consider approval of bills paid by the city in August totaling $17 million.
• Have an introduction of an ordinance conveying city-owned property to Baldwin County.
• Discuss a resolution allowing city workers to enter the property at 1810 S. Cedar Street to clean up a public nuisance.
• Discuss appointments to various city boards including reappointing Phillip Hinesley and Mark Jones to the Graham Creek Nature Preserve Advisory Board, reappointing Janice Johnson to the Senior Center Advisory Board and reappointing Otis Gatlin to the Industrial Development Board.
• Consider a resolution declaring mowers for the parks department as surplus and trading them. No other details were provided in the agenda.
• Discuss amending the pay classification schedule for the police department.
• Consider declaring two guns as surplus and giving them to the police department.
• Consider allowing a pop-up arts show for the Foley Arts Center for members only.
• Discuss passing a resolution of support for the Wolf Bay Watershed Management Plan.
• Consider approving bids awarded in August including to Bill Smith Electrical for $76,500 for athletic fields lighting.
• Consider a resolution approving the submission of a project to the Highway Safety
• Improvement Program call for projects.
• Discuss approving an application for an Alabama Transportation Rehabilitation and Improvement Program-II for intersection improvements along the Foley Beach Express. The application deadline is Nov. 15.
• Consider a resolution to accept the sub-recipient grant agreement from Mobile Bay National Estuary Program for $247,541 for the Beulah Heights drainage project.
• Consider approving the unbudgeted purchase of a tactical video phone for $29,256.
• Discuss approving an agreement between the Coastal Weather Research Center (CWRC) and Foley for the weather forecasting and warning service for $3,600 annually by paying $300 monthly.
• Discuss rescheduling council meetings around holidays.
• Consider a sponsorship to help the historic Swift-Cole mansion fund a pavilion for outdoor events. The city will consider a donation of $1,000, $2,000 or $5,000.
• Discuss a resolution to pay $12,000 for the East Verbena Avenue inlet modification and lighting improvements.
• Consider a resolution to set a public hearing to declare weeds on a vacant lot in the northeast corner of South Hickory Street and County Road 20 as a public nuisance and ordering its cleanup.
• Discuss a resolution to pay $216,358 for the Mills Park playground improvements using impact fees.
• Consider writing off debts totaling $3,707 from fiscal year 2024 as uncollectable.
• Consider adopting a strategic plan for 2025-30 for the city of Foley. Click here to see the plan.