[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6109126,"mediaKeyId","2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755","parentId",2764057,"title","Fairhope Council reviews waterfront drainage change order, project selections and several contract clarifications","audioSeconds",2747,"startMs",2118000,"endMs",4865000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755&start=2118&end=4865","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755/thumbnail_2118000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109126/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Fairhope-Council-reviews-waterfront-drainage-change-order-project-selections-and-several-contract-clarifications","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109126-630994fdba4bb2c27bed57accf077f59/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198686&Signature=BUG5ZkGI2Eh5ke3Lgxuo-e5olFtJ9WKM-NWBXASnPJpfLVvY03x9Y49H35avwvcgu2yo1BohKuv2tGdw9XjRF5bRZgYN2YIfueVS3TaiTaJxhRCaSvREFUoewVizzUchLc43IwZ-kVycxIJCh31iRRdRdmQ5gGZ32jafJWq8woDN7ux74G5YnPO1adAWI94CVTEYFJUEnr-VCuJdSzg373Xgldv7Aoal9zYyupf4kBcSApFdDDJXZDl55e63rjl6EDC5v0STla4fpXHPp5d~6bGcqL7j~PB9dtfRTBMhEDViuw3I3iAuvfFpL16x4qNDvknlsK74mXCmym0adm2dsA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fairhope City, AL","date","2025-03-25T19:02:23.067Z","article","City staff used the April 8 work session to brief the council on several capital projects, contract clarifications and subscription items the council will consider at its regular meeting, and to request direction on a handful of items that need more information before final approval.

Richard Johnson (city staff) described a recommended change order related to the Working Waterfront project: during construction crews discovered a corroded corrugated metal drainage conduit that runs from the bluff to the seawall and contributes to sinkhole and erosion risk. Johnson said engineers prepared repair plans and the city sought contractor pricing; staff recommended completing the drainage repairs now rather than returning later for an isolated repair.

“It would be bad decision making to not fix this while we have a contractor there,” Johnson told council members, citing a prior, similar project that cost about $275,000 and noting the overall waterfront project budget is in the millions.

Nut graf: The change-order request was framed as an infrastructure necessity tied to active construction; staff argued that doing the work now reduces future costs and preserves recent investments in the seawall and park improvements.

City staff also recommended awarding an environmental/NEPA contract (not-to-exceed, vendor: Volkert) to clear HUD-related environmental and cultural requirements for an airport grant-funded project. Staff said the NEPA scope includes archaeological and cultural-resource review and that the city must complete that review before spending grant proceeds.

The council heard a recommendation to select Neil Schafer to perform a Twin Beach corridor safety study funded mostly by an MPO/TAP grant (roughly $40,000 total; 80% MPO, 20% city share). The study will examine pedestrian and traffic safety near schools and high-use areas along the corridor.

Several procurement and contract items prompted additional council questions:

- A proposed award for sidewalk work to McLaughlin was discussed; the resolution language lists a $17,050 figure that staff said represented the vendor’s labor portion while materials would be supplied by the city, bringing total project materials and labor closer to $42,000. Councilors asked staff to revise the resolution language to remove ambiguity about which costs are included and which will be city‑provided.

- An item to subscribe to a weather‑alert service for parks and complexes carried a quoted subscription cost of $3,000 per year for the additional sites; staff clarified the cost and how it fits the current budget.

- A proposed monthly charge from Mediacom to provide cable to exercise equipment and TVs in the recreation center prompted a council request to pull that item so the city’s IT consultant can review alternatives (streaming options, renegotiation, or franchise considerations).

- IT and police staff asked for immediate expansion of storage on the Genetec video server that houses camera footage used by corrections and public safety. Council members asked staff to document the funding source for that unbudgeted $32,000 request (staff said it would come from the corrections fund).

- Council members asked questions about a proposed budget-software subscription that includes an initial period and a contractual annual escalator (staff described an initial price and a built-in annual increase intended as a subscription escalator). Several councilors asked staff to track subscription escalators and include renewal mechanisms in future reviews.

Staff also updated council on ongoing projects: the South Beach Park seawall is complete in its south segment, preconstruction meetings are scheduled for White Avenue Park improvements, Flying Creek Nature Preserve work is advancing toward a summer opening, and the city awaits final ALDOT comments on the sidewalk project connecting 98 to 78.

Ending: Council members asked staff to return with clarified resolution language where figures were ambiguous, to pull the Mediacom item for IT review and to document funding sources for unbudgeted items; staff said they would follow up and present revised language at the regular meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Fairhope City Council Work Session March 24, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","City staff used the April 8 work session to brief the council on several capital projects, contract clarifications and subscription items the council will consider at its regular meeting, and to request direction on a handful of items that need more information before final approval.","taxTitle","Fairhope City, Baldwin County, Alabama","taxId",51162,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109130,"State library agency pauses Fairhope library funding pending review of youth materials",957,1085000,2042000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755&start=1085&end=2042","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755/thumbnail_1085000.jpg","/articles/6109130/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/State-library-agency-pauses-Fairhope-library-funding-pending-review-of-youth-materials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109130-7521cf6eb731c3bfd6c1dd7c215b6e26/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198686&Signature=COpQP-sIaiWcyTV9NcTTb9bdf2FOSophWSP-yuYOsO9UVCRSk4ueESYW9EL4SU8mlDtE6WPkYINqpSJAs5EI3G4nxlycrhOpCD7zARqmtcb2e5EtBwHCuJDN8VJikBzJ3zHRFFyNRffXc9Nuc8nNyFYx5GnL6dQhCVFXx486HEhBdOGgh~C3kGP8Pk5mrO7kVEJbn2SVLHwPsd89uxDOQOponCc0zfy2eY~Ey97ZHxLhBTmVNo5EaHbYEvT0DSQeb0CH1~5peUymH~cr67ToOKwR0Y7b8dTcm47oxMxUYElXn~0rCPYZHDB~FNp49Tq4e4ag672tHpB84BJEm-IFWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fairhope City officials told the City Council during the April 8 work session that the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) has paused the next state funding distribution to the Fairhope Public Library while it investigates complaints about certain library materials and their placement for minors.

Mayor Sullivan and council members said the pause affects only state quarterly funding (about $42,000 annually in total state support for the library) and that the library has already received two of the quarterly payments this fiscal year. “There was not defunding. A pause,” a city official told the council when members sought clarification on the status of the state funds.

Nut graf: The pause was taken by the state board pending an investigation into whether some items are properly located or categorized under rules that treat anyone under 18 as a minor. City officials said they expect the APLS investigation and communication with the library staff and hope funding will be reinstated quickly if the agency finds the library is in compliance or makes minor adjustments.

Council members and library staff described the procedural and definitional issues that produced the pause. City officials said the complaint reached APLS during the public-participation portion of an APLS meeting rather than as a pre‑scheduled agenda item, so the state board acted without prior notice to the Fairhope library. The city said APLS told them it hoped to complete a review and reinstate funding promptly if the library’s response satisfied the agency’s requirements.

Rob Gourley, the Fairhope Public Library director, said the library has been conducting internal reviews: “Since January, we've moved 5 books,” he said, summarizing actions taken while awaiting guidance from the state. He added that the library had not yet received formal written requirements from APLS and was waiting for that guidance.

Library staff also told the council about a new parent‑consent process the library implemented to manage minors’ access to sections of the collection. A staff member said 539 parents had completed the form and that 276 (51%) of those parents chose to allow full access for their children to the library’s collection, while other parents limited access to children’s or teen sections.

Council discussion also explored whether the library and library board could create a local “young adult” or similar category to reduce confusion, while recognizing the state’s definition of “minor” (under 18) may limit how the city or library can classify materials for legal compliance.

City officials and council members repeatedly emphasized a desire for due process and for the state and library staff to communicate directly to resolve classification questions. Several council members expressed concern about outside groups taking complaints to the state without first giving the local library a chance to respond.

Ending: City officials said they expect additional communication from APLS and that, if the library is found in compliance or makes the limited changes the state requires, state funding will resume; the city does not expect the pause to be permanent and described the action as an investigative hold rather than a permanent defunding.

","The Alabama Public Library Service paused the next state funding distribution to the Fairhope Public Library while the agency reviews questions raised about the placement or appropriateness of certain materials for minors; city officials said the pause is temporary and contingent on an APLS investigation.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6109132,"J. Larry Newton Elementary credits 3-mill tax and added staff for jump to A grade",774,23000,797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755&start=23&end=797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2764057-b3bd62cb89bcc3d8a6662de289084755/thumbnail_23000.jpg","/articles/6109132/Fairhope-City/Baldwin-County/Alabama/J-Larry-Newton-Elementary-credits-3-mill-tax-and-added-staff-for-jump-to-A-grade","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109132-74ca24a1d8bf344ae9c20069ccc1c592/orig.mp4?Expires=1771198686&Signature=DGzlvRSeOi4DF2epkbmUjm1sxZNl8-ecSyaPYaOkzMjn23Xl1tkKWS5NZh-M~f~1oNVmYgWwzBZzKAo~n--ysCe-BA6pfu5J-qaSh~XMZvhThLmo2VXZ2qnQShwTYE1Bj9DnJ3cm26alPelJ7b-tg3sJmvih8iWs~-65p1GyRdWpzLkKUkO3DrDf-UUXL5uZPO3qCE3YdizxBTZeBQ95YrJ5~Qf2snnAgxL6kqQ~8jjqdUIcyFm6YFT1x3DCTgpIc29jcYajV7fNlXBL3sDwMcmBmXaISZ5x6BDiX4vXnuWcRZvTrD6T6U7vPJUa~PMEe7~HBpkpwWLvbTw0AyLD6w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tanya Harrelson, principal of J. Larry Newton Elementary School, told the Fairhope City Council on April 8 that the school used revenue from Fairhope’s 3-mill tax referendum to add staff and boost student support, and credited that investment with the school’s jump from an 87 (B) to a 92 (A) on the state report card.

Harrelson said the three-mill funds pay for 11 employees dedicated to direct instruction and student support, including a math coach, a literacy coach, a STEAM teacher, an intervention coordinator, a social worker, five instructional paraprofessionals and several part-time interventionists.

“The principals have it their discretion to request how they're going to spend this money, and for me, I just want to put that in people so that we can spend more time with students and start closing some of those gaps,” Harrelson said. “All students are able to get some intentional targeted instruction based on their individual needs.”

Nut graf: The account to council foregrounds how locally approved property-tax revenue is being used at the school level in Fairhope City to fund personnel rather than one-time purchases, a strategy Harrelson says produced measurable gains on the state accountability measure.

Harrelson described how the school schedules rotation through a STEAM classroom for all students, uses intervention blocks for both students who are behind and those who need more challenge, and has embedded professional development through on-site coaches who observe and support teachers.

She also described nonacademic supports: a social worker who helps families with basic needs and referrals when students face trauma, and two counselors who work alongside the social worker. Harrelson said those roles allow the school to respond immediately to family needs ranging from utility or food assistance to crisis intervention.

Attendance and English-language learners emerged as two continuing challenges. Harrelson told council members that the state’s chronic-absence metric treats any student absent 18 or more days as “chronically absent,” and that the district’s score counts that metric toward the state report card.

“Once they hit 18 or more, they're considered chronically absent,” Harrelson said. “Our kids don't have control over that. They're not driving themselves to school. A lot of parents at the elementary level, if they've got multiple kids, and one of them is sick, mom just keeps everybody home because it's just easier.”

Harrelson said the school is running incentive programs and parent outreach to reduce absences and that she expects some improvement on the next report card. She also described English-as-a-second-language instruction: she said the school has about 63 students identified as ESL out of roughly 800 students and one ESL teacher who pulls groups for immersion-style practice.

On staffing choices, Harrelson said most three-mill funds at Newton are used for personnel; the one recurring nonpersonnel expense she listed was an institutional membership for administrators’ professional development that remains with the school if leadership changes.

Council members congratulated Harrelson on the performance jump and asked follow-up questions about mental-health staffing. Harrelson said Newton currently has two counselors and a social worker and that, for her school’s mix of students, those positions meet current needs; she acknowledged other Fairhope schools, particularly middle and high schools, might need additional mental-health personnel.

Harrelson closed by inviting council members and the public to visit the school: “You are always welcome at Newton. You don't have to call and tell me you're coming. Just show up,” she said.

Ending: The school’s use of local tax funds to hire coaches, paraprofessionals and intervention staff provides a concrete example for the council of how the 3-mill referendum revenue is being channeled into personnel to support day‑to‑day instruction and student supports; Harrelson said she expects continued improvement if attendance and ESL gains hold.

","Principal Tanya Harrelson told the Fairhope City Council the school used revenue from the 3-mill referendum to hire instructional staff and specialists; the school’s state report card rose from an 87 (B) to a 92 (A). Harrelson highlighted interventions, ESL support, and a focus on chronic absenteeism.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Fairhope Council reviews waterfront drainage change order, project selections and several contract clarifications

State library agency pauses Fairhope library funding pending review of youth materials

J. Larry Newton Elementary credits 3-mill tax and added staff for jump to A grade