Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – Orange Beach is considering authorizing a grant application to build a safe room for first responders during storms for a total of $6.2 million with the city’s 10 percent match at $627,916 if the grant is awarded.

The council will meet in a joint work/regular session on Sept. 17th at 5 p.m. in council chambers at city hall.

Orange Beach qualified for the grant program when FEMA declared a disaster after Hurricane Sally on Sept. 16, 2020.

“The city wishes to construct a first responder safe room to act as a base of operations for our emergency response teams during future disasters,” the resolution states. “First Responder Safe Rooms are considered eligible for funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.”

During the regular session, the council will:

• Considering the approval of payment for goods and services from Sept. 5-19 for $578,359.
• Discuss declaring Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in remembrance of the 237th anniversary of the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.
• Consider an ordinance change to approve additional mini storage buildings at Keel Storage on the north side of Canal Road west of Sam’s Stop N Shop.
• Discuss naming Mayor Tony Kennon and council members Jeff Boyd, Joni Blalock, Jerry Johnson, Annette Mitchell and Jeff Silvers and City Administrator Ford Handley to the city’s Solid Waste Disposal Authority.
• Consider a contract with Tanner Myatt for golf instruction services. 
• Discuss awarding the bid for the Canal Road multi-use trail connectivity projects. Bids were opened on Sept. 12 and Wiregrass Construction was the winning bidder at $3.6 million.

During the work session, the council will discuss:

• Annexing property on Roscoe Road and owned by David Gatlin into the city of Orange Beach.
• Changes to the city golf cart ordinance.
• Awarding a bid for building the Coastal Alabama Sea Turtle Center for triage of injured sea turtles. Bids are scheduled to be opened on Sept. 26.
• Awarding a bid for tent rentals for the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach. Bids are scheduled to be opened on Sept. 26.
• A contract with J.F. Morris Performance for theater direction for “Shrek The Musical.”
• A resolution authorizing a contract with Peak Software Systems for Golf Center member management software for $4,485.
• A resolution accepting a proposal from ThreatAdvice Security Services to connect the field house and batting cage buildings at the Sportsplex to the fiber network for $19,280.
• A resolution authorizing a contract with Watermark Design Group to provide design, bid, and construction administration services for roof replacement at the Expect Excellence Music Building following the April 2021 hailstorm for $15,200.
• Setting a public hearing for an ordinance change to allow residents of Fish Camp Landing to improve and expand the marina to 52 slips to offer a slip for each residence in the subdivision.
• Setting a public hearing for a change in the sign ordinance to allow an expansion of the Columbia Southern University’s sign on the Foley Beach Express.