[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6249998,"mediaKeyId","3204437-c4d6defed502bbf68b86080890c5964c","parentId",3204437,"title","Spanish Fort council approves sales‑tax holiday exemption, public‑safety grants and $2 million financing agreement","audioSeconds",980,"startMs",2260000,"endMs",3240000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204437-c4d6defed502bbf68b86080890c5964c&start=2260&end=3240","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204437-c4d6defed502bbf68b86080890c5964c/thumbnail_2260000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6249998/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Spanish-Fort-council-approves-salestax-holiday-exemption-publicsafety-grants-and-2-million-financing-agreement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6249998-d2e2de676356d65917a2fc74b51229e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770656644&Signature=NTL6qOnwd3CIx9f-bbFwOKbLQfcPqAVB2Ocw~Y3UoZIxWGLyKKPTB5yj2nIcZN-U-Nf3n66sAVTMkly5Lns6K74OXcxqRDMPoONzCBocUYF3-5LGheu5cWvnp3uxSeyhnfLnwtbsMVgqD~eQB6hCQedDZyYKOi8MvDr~Wwngq~HmpnjHsIarzblaPQ0dkWoRqaxxNZe8K5X3BU6OYtQwd5l7vGTKSjfZifBlob5t~qxs0xUIVHlJZKNYZAC6oF~Y7ur-2cUNa~-lcUNtZqJIz60r~aAOLMeK~YbDXZu3y5QY7iaMiTxcsqfZsFy1EBIwhXsbzE14xAcP3cCMDpNAwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Spanish Fort, Alabama","date","2025-05-07T00:20:53.903Z","article","The City Council of Spanish Fort on Monday approved a municipal exemption for the state’s back‑to‑school sales‑tax holiday, authorized grant applications and equipment purchases for the fire and police departments that rely on grant funding, and approved a $2 million general obligation warrant financing agreement to fund a fire truck purchase and property acquisitions.

Council members voted to adopt a municipal exemption from the city’s 1.5 percent sales and use tax for covered back‑to‑school items during the state sales‑tax holiday period that will run from July 18 through midnight July 20, 2025. City staff clarified the exemption does not apply to license fees charged at the Eastern Shore Centre.

The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor and the fire chief to apply for state homeland security grant funds to cover cameras and access control and related security equipment; the proposals attached to the resolution total $62,101 and the resolution states there is no required matching local fund if the grant is approved. The council also approved a separate homeland security grant authorization for the police department covering targeted equipment and operational enhancements including portable camera systems, digital event signage and a specialty vehicle for responses; that resolution was presented as grant‑funded equipment and overtime support.

The council awarded a bid to GGT Distributors Inc. for a 16‑by‑24 portable training facility for the Spanish Fort Police Department at $20,269; the purchase is to be paid with previously approved grant funds. It also approved an agreement to accept funding through the Southwest Alabama Regional Highway Safety Office for overtime enforcement programs (selective traffic enforcement, impaired‑driving enforcement, Click‑It‑or‑Ticket and holiday mobilizations), and adopted a memorandum of understanding to receive those funds when provided.

The council suspended its rules to allow immediate consideration of a grant application to the Alabama Coastal Management Program administered by the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and adopted a resolution authorizing a grant application for up to $50,000 to aid development of a city comprehensive plan; that grant requires a 1:1 local match if awarded.

Council members also authorized a financing agreement tied to a previously approved ordinance authorizing a $2,000,000 general obligation warrant; council authorized the mayor to execute the joint financing documents subject to standard bank review and any necessary ministerial edits.

The council introduced several administrative and contract items for later consideration: proposed amendments to community center rental rules that increase resident rental fees to $850 and nonresident fees to $1,100 per event and clarify lobby and kitchen use; proposed amendments to employee pay classifications to address the retirement of a long‑time administrative employee (first reading); a sole‑source agreement with Axon Enterprises Inc. to provide TASER energy weapons and related equipment priced at $35,395.20 (first reading); an intergovernmental mowing agreement with Baldwin County for rights‑of‑way mowing within city limits (first reading); and a lease agreement to install a Safe Haven baby box at the new Fire Station No. 1 consisting of a one‑time setup fee of $15,500 and annual monitoring of $500 per year with five‑year lease terms (first reading).

Where the council recorded roll calls, votes were unanimous among members present. Several items were adopted on first reading after suspending the rules because of application deadlines; others will return for a second reading or further review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 5, 2025 - Spanish Fort City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The City Council of Spanish Fort on Monday approved a municipal exemption for the state’s back‑to‑school sales‑tax holiday, authorized grant applications and equipment purchases for the fire and police departments that rely on grant funding, and approved a $2 million general obligation warrant financing agreement to fund a fire truck purchase and property acquisitions.","taxTitle","Spanish Fort , Baldwin County, Alabama","taxId",71525,"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},6250004,"Resident warns of blocked culverts on Blakely Road; mayor says crews, FEMA review underway",501,570000,1071000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204437-c4d6defed502bbf68b86080890c5964c&start=570&end=1071","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204437-c4d6defed502bbf68b86080890c5964c/thumbnail_570000.jpg","/articles/6250004/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Resident-warns-of-blocked-culverts-on-Blakely-Road-mayor-says-crews-FEMA-review-underway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6250004-0c82f045d19cf8969588c4279ebd01eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770656644&Signature=Tr~CZYRZ8F4k-gFnH5FCYUHa2sKSJ4gQfYxi4yQ4G~OnkwHJ9F-VUhrP6tGzAqRqSRA8Zs3F3TNMBvmlXhoRVQV0HsQjFOQ6Zbg8TEUAqesTnN550~SenkqSOE-pa-ajyg2JvWfsno8XxhSOLxVZ4dpW0AeC3TQJAYcgQmLA1UeaEJAZW2QlGXDRINPUZbkl9M~YBf9xeZDAV7EdhOenAhW4eu-8f~1xtoZ69nshIw35W97peW9i45ypBMwIyufFHwEvUCOpPo~H8zQ7MQzJddL3-F4h4U-h922yhZBKZq1VEjOZWZZ7tx6n3DDoWzrFCo1bbaB8UL8lNRl8qUmcaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Charles Cattell, a Spanish Fort resident of nearly 49 years, told the City Council on Monday that several culverts under Blakely Road are clogged with boulders, concrete and sand and are allowing water to pass through only a 20‑inch channel, creating overflow and depositing gravel and sand on adjacent property.

“After the rain we had…you can see the massive amount of sand that has accumulated in the creek bed,” Cattell said. He said his rain gauge measured 1.1 inches during the recent storm and that the accumulated material and plugged openings are “going to cause multiple problems” and could cause trees to fall.

Mayor Michael McMillan told Cattell the city has crews working at the site to move boulders and clear flow paths and that the site was included in a recent Federal Emergency Management Agency inspection. He said a public‑works employee was injured while crews were working to clear the culverts and that the city is awaiting FEMA’s report, which will go to the governor’s office as part of any repair funding request. “We are very aware of it, Mr. Cattrell, and we’re certainly going to make it a priority to get it fixed,” McMillan said.

Cattell offered to remain after the meeting to provide additional details to city staff. Council members asked that the mayor and the public‑works supervisor, Shannon, coordinate on next steps once FEMA’s findings are available.

The matter was brought up during the meeting’s public participation period; council members did not take a formal vote at the meeting. The mayor’s remarks indicate the city has begun immediate, nonbinding cleanup and is seeking FEMA review for potential funding. The council did not adopt any ordinance or resolution about Blakely Road at the meeting.

City staff or public‑works supervisors did not provide a timetable for repairs at the meeting; the mayor said the city will prioritize the site when FEMA’s report and any required approvals are received.","A longtime Spanish Fort resident told the City Council that blocked culverts on Blakely Road are restricting flow and leaving sand and gravel on nearby property. Mayor Michael McMillan said crews have begun work, a public‑works employee was injured, and FEMA inspected the site; the city is awaiting FEMA's report and will prioritize repairs.","actionData","errors"]

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Spanish Fort council approves sales‑tax holiday exemption, public‑safety grants and $2 million financing agreement

Resident warns of blocked culverts on Blakely Road; mayor says crews, FEMA review underway