Orange Beach Seeks Grant for First Responder Safe Room Project

John Mullen • September 17, 2024

Council to Vote on Multi-Use Trail and Storage Expansion

Orange Beach Fire Dept.

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.

Share this article w/ Friends...

Things to do on the Gulf Coast This Week.
By Jessica A. Taylor August 24, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The calendar may be creeping towards September, but the Alabama Gulf Coast summer is still swinging for one more big hit. This week offers a wonderfully random–and very Gulf Coast–mix of activities to see, do, learn, hear, and eat. Test your trivia skills under the stars and twinkle lights
Gulf Shores City Hall
By K. Cooper August 24, 2026
Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) — Gulf Shores City Leaders are considering key infrastructure and workforce investments, including the adoption of the city’s 2027 Transportation Plan and a one-time lump-sum bonus for eligible municipal retirees.
Orange Beach Event Center
By OBA Staff August 24, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Mystics of Pleasure Mardi Gras Krewe is gearing up for a fun night in Orange Beach. The Krewe will host its 26th Annual Drawdown fundraiser at the Orange Beach Event Center at The Wharf. The event promises an evening packed with food, live music, dancing, and a chance to win $10,000. T
Orange Beach City Hall
By OBA Staff August 23, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Orange Beach is closely examining how stormwater moves through one of its neighborhoods. Thompson Engineering presented a drainage basin study and a stormwater master plan for the Bear Point area to the City Council. The study aims to help the city better understand and manage its drainage
Alabama Launches New License System
By OBA Staff from David Rainer’s Article on Outdoor Alabama August 23, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Alabama hunters and anglers now have a new way to buy their licenses this season. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has launched a redesigned license platform, My Outdoor Alabama. The new system replaces a custom-built platform that had been in use for 20 years.
Foley's 45-Year-Old Reindeer
By Guy Busby August 23, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — Although Christmas may still be months away, the city of Foley is already planning for the holiday season. The Foley City Council has approved the purchase of nine new reindeer to pull Santa's sleigh at the city's annual Christmas Parade. The parade rolls through downtown Foley each December and
The Wharf in Orange Beach
By OBA Staff August 22, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — The Wharf in Orange Beach and Birmingham-based Buffalo Rock Pepsi announced a $5,000 donation to Alabama Credit Union's Secret Meals for Hungry Children program. The program provides non-perishable weekend meals to children across Alabama during the school year. Representatives from both o
Work to improve the Beulah Heights Regional Stormwater Facility is near completion.
By Guy Busby August 22, 2026
Foley, Ala. — (OBA) — A major stormwater drainage project in southeast Foley is nearing completion after nearly two decades of work. The Beulah Heights Regional Stormwater Facility has received funding from multiple grant sources to reach this point. The project is expected to improve drainage for hundreds of acres in
Humming Birds in Fort Morgan - Photo by Bill Blain
By OBA Staff August 22, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Alabama is in the midst of one of nature's most significant seasonal events. Each fall, millions of birds travel through the state along the Mississippi Flyway, a major migration route stretching from central Canada to the Gulf. The state's forests, wetlands, rivers, and coastal habitats
Governor Ivey Announces GoMESA Funds Projects for 2026
By OBA Staff August 21, 2026
Orange Beach, Ala. — (OBA) — Coastal Alabama is set to receive significant funding for regional improvement efforts. State leaders have approved more than $52 million for 21 local projects. The selected initiatives focus on environmental education and public outreach, and they also target boating access, water quality
Show More