Foley Roadway Collapse Spurs Emergency Action by City Council
John Mullen • April 21, 2025
Council to vote on $600K fix at tonight’s meeting
Foley, Ala. – (OBA) – Damage to the West Peachtree Avenue roadway due to the collapse of a drainage is in need of emergency repairs and the Foley City Council will consider spending $600,000 to repair the roadway.
The council will meet at 4 p.m. in council chambers at city hall on April 21.
“City staff recommends moving forward with declaring this repair an emergency to immediately reduce further damage due to delay to the existing public right of way, infrastructure, including utilities and roadway and potential public health, safety and welfare,” the proposed resolution states.
During the joint regular/work session, the council will also:
- Hear a sister city student presentation to student delegates for outstanding leadership. The agenda didn’t state the name of the sister city.
- Issue three proclamations declaring May 4-10 as Municipal Clerks Week, Public Service Recognition Week and Drinking Water Week in the city.
- Consider approving payments of goods and services for March for $9 million.
- Receive a report on tax collections for March, including $2.8 million in sales tax, or about $250,000 less than March of 2024 and about $250,000 short of budget projections. The city collected $155,337 in lodging taxes, or $30,000 over March of 2024 and $43,000 over budget projections.
- Review a report from Community Development showing the city issued 23 permits for single-family residences with a valuation of $6.9 million and one commercial permit for $1.1 million.
- Receive a report on police activity in March, including processing 279 inmates through the city jail for a total of 771 for the year. During the month, police made eight arrests for shoplifting and eight for simple assault-domestic violence. Officers were dispatched for service 2,181 times during the month.
- Receive a report from the fire department showing crews were called 58 times to assist an invalid, 36 times to assist EMS crews, 27 motor vehicle accidents without injuries and 15 times for motor vehicle accidents with injuries. Crews were called out 246 times during the month and 27 times were canceled en route.
- Have an introduction of an ordinance to amend city building codes to adopt the 2024 International Building Codes to upgrade building inspections and fire code safety. The council will also set a public hearing date on the ordinance.
- Have an introduction of an ordinance to amend traffic regulations in the city.
- Have an introduction of an ordinance to reduce the speed limit on James Road.
- Have an introduction of an ordinance to establish the use of electronic vote-counting devices in the city.
- Consider approving a liquor license for the new Cobblestone Suites located near the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market and Wolf Bay Lodge restaurant.
- Discuss waiving fees for the use of Max Griffin Park and the Foley Kids Park for the Kiwanis Club of Foley’s International Kids Day Service Project on June 8.
- Consider an addendum to the Michigan Avenue Regional Stormwater Improvement Project contract, adding $8,000 for a landscape plan for a pond expansion.
- Discuss appointing election officers for the upcoming August city elections.
- Discuss bids awarded in March to Bill Smith Electric for lighting for the Coastal Alabama Farmers and Fishermen’s Market sports park expansion for $134,300, a project on North Hickory Street to McElhenney Construction for $411,882, a flower bed change out project to Landscape Workshop for $17,181 and a used SUV for the Recreation Department from Moyer Ford for $29,406. All bids for a Graham Creek Pavilion were rejected after all came in over budget.
- Consider a road-building project for the Wilson/Equestrian Park Road and a $150,000 contract with Allen Engineering and Science to start construction engineering and inspection services for the project.
- Discuss approving emergency engine repairs to a fire pumper truck above bid law amounts for $82,262.
- Consider buying a fire skid for the Nature Parks Department for $6,000 to help with prescribed burning efforts.
- Discuss funding for construction engineering and inspection for the State Route 59 sidewalk project from West Roosevelt Avenue to East Azalea Avenue for $30,000. There is $1 million budgeted for the project.
- Consider waiving fees for the use of Max Griffin Park for American Legion Post 99’s Memorial Day ceremony.
- Discuss a proposal from CEO Structural Engineers for inspection of the fire department’s training center burn building for $5,900.
- Consider a proposal to consolidate the city’s door access control systems for $84,000.
- Discuss spending $175,000 to replace the concrete pad at Fire Station No. 1.
- Consider approving a contract with Volkert for the construction management for the Wolf Creek Restoration Project for $183,500.
- Discuss considering several breathing apparatuses as surplus and donating them to the Andalusia Fire Department.
- Consider making mid-year adjustments to the fiscal year 2025 budget and capital planning document.
- Discuss paying $25,000 to Kimberly-Horn to help in applying for a U.S. Department of Transportation grant to develop a safety action plan to be considered for a Safe Streets and Roads for All grant.
- Consider approving the purchase of a trailer for the police department for $12,990.
- Discuss buying a Kubota tractor for the Sports Tourism Department for $48,523.
- Consider declaring as surplus a four-seater golf cart surplus and buying a new one for the Sports Tourism Department for $12,362. The old one will be sold at auction.
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