[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6178273,"mediaKeyId","5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa","parentId",5322085,"title","Council holds Riviera Utilities franchise, introduces park rules, sawgrass drainage contracts and JAG grant application","audioSeconds",158,"startMs",3192000,"endMs",3350000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa&start=3192&end=3350","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa/thumbnail_3192000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6178273/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Council-holds-Riviera-Utilities-franchise-introduces-park-rules-sawgrass-drainage-contracts-and-JAG-grant-application","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178273-c74a8e66fadb175989875dcee4fc3d5a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129010&Signature=kA4Ns6GwD73c5ntEEbJ60p5FnmCdpOozCewQMQSZnR7Ot0p0kuImeMly7LIARmd54OoWH2UvNES4snGnVven2DlpiVBit44PtR9hkwfLFB0sAHsmdfr9-Cc-U35TRyeMPxWMpCpNPzKfIbFr1oTRuzaIquGAg9zdh-HczE5BlJ575RQyReZsvkJXcTCMM0HuFggV4XHq2g~3dJoqYhi9jB26JiJfThIwyskI2k5jL4DTI5u4QzmyDH1ML9MhTNXfKfhWAOsCGdzf28W1Y0OHS50nuZR4bBEjdJhVFNep3FQdafc58UbIWg-vDXxAmLMlVpFw-lv-UNPz3rRicABpHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Spanish Fort, Alabama","date","2025-07-07T22:50:11Z","article","The city council opened a public hearing on a proposed nonexclusive 30-year franchise renewal for Riviera Utilities but delayed final adoption to allow staff to compare contract language used by other municipalities.

David Connor told the council Riviera serves a large number of city electrical customers and had requested renewal; the public hearing was held and staff said additional draft language is being considered and the ordinance will be returned for adoption at a future meeting.

PARK RULES AND ATHLETIC CAMPS: The council introduced an ordinance establishing rules for the Spanish Fort Town Center Park, which includes pickleball courts, a splash pad and a pavilion. City staff said work-session edits had deleted two numbered pickleball rules and adjusted splash-pad hours to 9 a.m. to dusk. The ordinance was introduced for future adoption and staff were asked to consult the city’s insurance carrier prior to the council’s next review.

The council also introduced a proposed $42,000 agreement (less worker’s compensation and insurance) to authorize athletic camps with services provided through Spanish Fort High School. Staff and council requested removal of references to an “athletic director” in favor of references only to the head football coach where applicable; staff will make those edits before final consideration.

DRAINAGE CONTRACTS: Two Sawgrass Consulting LLC engineering/survey agreements were introduced for future adoption: a $25,500 agreement for drainage work at Cemetery Road and a $63,000 agreement for drainage improvements at Driftwood Lane, Stanton Road and Walling Road. Both items were introduced for the council’s July 21 agenda.

GRANTS: The council adopted a resolution authorizing application for an Edward Byrne Memorial JAG grant administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Staff said the grant's maximum award is $150,000 and requires no matching funds; the council approved the application.

Why this matters: the items cover long-term utilities franchising, local park operations and programming, stormwater/drainage engineering, recreation contracting and public-safety grant funding.

Next steps: Staff will revise the franchise/ordinance language and return it for adoption, consult the insurance carrier on park rules, finalize the Sawgrass agreements and athletic-camp edits for the July 21 meeting, and proceed with the grant application.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","July 7, 2025 - Spanish Fort City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Council members opened a public hearing on a proposed 30-year Riviera Utilities franchise renewal but deferred adoption to review draft language; they also introduced park rules, two Sawgrass drainage contracts and an athletic-camp agreement and approved a JAG grant application.","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},6178278,"Spanish Fort council asks Army Corps to reconsider Mobile Bay dredge disposal plan",108,4110000,4218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa&start=4110&end=4218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa/thumbnail_4110000.jpg","/articles/6178278/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Spanish-Fort-council-asks-Army-Corps-to-reconsider-Mobile-Bay-dredge-disposal-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178278-422312133a0b92b5ad5f21423b3c925f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129010&Signature=YRxHFVC7ChcKvI~UwTTWRR12-iyJfL~oV3hu0ArExGvkcPh3uu62A5JrqB37rzWx~1ZRGOmiKd0d9rj~OoiZO37xM76va-n9AbyZpdTkrMTAl8zSwmNWV8QVsjVwFWOyz67xA~HTyo57SpzvKPDks7pEqINh3CO8W-iOhocXZ2adSr2h-rXP0wQF6R-EWpmjLztJSSgtRev~XLITbHsFpRQWjamIR-U82vG5jSF8AwPLzkt3gIzOyJKb96ZT0nH8YELQ~ureBvbRtut8YLbjkzUptdOn6rPEGUumTJ-1OmkWzfhkW9NkEbhTr80zn4k3sEXeThuad5E0FH64YTTcYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spanish Fort City Council unanimously adopted a resolution expressing concern about proposed dredge-spoil disposal into Mobile Bay and asked the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate alternatives.

City staff explained that the Corps’ Mobile Harbor expansion project is expected to generate large volumes of dredged sediment. “It is anticipated that over the next 20 years ... over 90,000,000 cubic yards of dredged sediment or spoil will be deposited directly into Mobile Bay,” David Connor said. The resolution requests that the Corps consider alternative disposal or management strategies to protect the health of Mobile Bay while allowing the Port of Mobile to continue operations.

Why this matters: the resolution frames potential environmental and economic concerns tied to long-term dredge disposal in a bay that supports fisheries, recreation and port operations. The council directed staff to transmit the resolution to the Army Corps of Engineers promptly.

Action: The council voted to adopt the resolution by roll call; the vote was recorded as unanimous and the mayor instructed staff to prepare and send the document to the Corps.

Next steps: staff will prepare the resolution for delivery to the Corps and follow up as requested by the council.","The council adopted a resolution asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to investigate alternative dredge-spoil management strategies for the Mobile Harbor expansion after staff said the Corps plans to deposit up to 90 million cubic yards of dredged material into Mobile Bay over the next two decades.",{"_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},6178282,"City awards $197,167 resurfacing contract for five Spanish Fort streets",24,3445000,3469000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa&start=3445&end=3469","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa/thumbnail_3445000.jpg","/articles/6178282/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/City-awards-197167-resurfacing-contract-for-five-Spanish-Fort-streets","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178282-9caa14541e5c9ac09c0c515fbc0649ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129010&Signature=nw37b9QlEe0JKwvEwcVdIzN9E8YXUAQeYH2wYdHFakVERuwETvlIg45griDC6JfQEZetPbXrioEl1ITCEiYZ1ordbL2cQ~ZjZuXIPxNjSKC~MGj1ZtAWxo-6naTfhb8UVX0pWYMCrNwhp4peZquMv~5PWSeSnNPpFUS-LCAQm-TDqKvu~uFP0N6y2L6-AX1sf4FRfCllR3LfOHJK59mYdGSCbfFtrGMRtkVSIK0sZh9HFNnIeF2eX2slzYjJRCUl1KXY-zweW5DjVNck4rO9X6nqwkB57FSW9AUIihwq~g~MoZ0I-6lVlmMumEQzQyPWZNpxMDq8nim1z6QcAhj9UA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spanish Fort City Council awarded a resurfacing contract for the 2024 resurfacing project to HCL Contracting LLC as the lowest responsive bidder.

City staff said the bid from HCL Contracting LLC dated May 14, 2025, was the lowest responsible bid at $197,167.46. The council added the list of streets to be included in the project; as read into the record the streets were Oakley Court, Oakley Drive, Woodland Way, Ponce De Leon Drive (spoken in the meeting; spelling in the transcript varied), and the intersection referenced as Spanish Maid/Main and Cannonade.

A council member asked why the project is titled 2024 when it appears in the 2025 budget; staff responded that the project was requested in 2024 and carried over while the city awaited Rebuild Alabama awards. The council approved the resolution awarding the bid by roll call (recorded yes votes: Smith, Gustafson, Perry, Wynne, Grabner, Mayor).

Why this matters: the resolution authorizes a contractor to perform resurfacing work on neighborhood streets, addressing pavement maintenance. The contract amount and the street list were entered into the record.

Next steps: staff to finalize the contract, post notices, and schedule the resurfacing work; contractors will coordinate with residents and city public-works staff on schedule and traffic controls.","The council awarded the Spanish Fort 2024 resurfacing contract to HCL Contracting LLC for $197,167.46 and added specific streets to the project list: Oakley Court, Oakley Drive, Woodland Way, Ponce De Leon Drive (as read), and the Spanish Made/Main and Cannonade intersection.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6178287,"Council approves several rezonings, rejects one mobile-home zoning change",400,2627000,3027000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa&start=2627&end=3027","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa/thumbnail_2627000.jpg","/articles/6178287/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Council-approves-several-rezonings-rejects-one-mobile-home-zoning-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178287-357420f3a582147aae0311d9cb6a301d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129010&Signature=gS75Q6X3sSC9joLQEaUSJRlIILweaLjlpQowT~63zHwkw2M1jKVn54flS9-FJuq-4~R8rfoNOmktl31m8y~FPS7MB33AsbYs1IWdqXgH0EmK16dUI66LIIOCodG1GcKNiLa-pKNTICzGO8mvNPA8fWycli~bfOyDKrbZvMTBnMdzhfDmn87yNR~TCMz9kvJZCN1FjVV4MSaYwu3rxsc7sMRn66YRwvSdtNjhh7J7L3iHb4uRdYBYvycRSSWFkGgCqDq2pb22ygyAd7r77HYsVWjusH6Y0CXnFgd2xfM0ZVXXZvqedZZmUh3xzrpphIv73LDrJRQbQDk~pApdK2Th7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Spanish Fort City Council considered and voted on several zoning matters, approving most requests and rejecting one rezoning petition after public comment and a negative planning-commission recommendation.

City staff member David Connor presented the ordinance amendments and rezoning requests. The council adopted an ordinance amending the zoning code to allow temporary construction-related uses on the causeway for the Tensaw River Bridge replacement project (ordinance 7092025). Connor said the planning commission had recommended the change.

The council also approved rezoning for a property at 30752 Amber Lane (R-1 to B-2) and a property at 10021 U.S. Highway 31 (R-1 to B-1) after public hearings and planning-commission recommendations.

One application — to rezone 30901 Spanish Oaks Drive West from R-2 to R-4 to allow placement of a manufactured/mobile home — received a negative recommendation from the planning commission. A nearby resident, Lorraine Sebastian, spoke in opposition. Council members asked how to record their intentions; after a motion to approve the ordinance, the roll-call vote recorded Smith — no; Gustafson — no; Perry — no; Wynne — no; Brabner — no, and the motion failed and the rezoning did not pass.

Another rezoning request for a parcel adjacent to U.S. Highway 31 (tax parcel described in the agenda) that the owner said could accommodate a convenience store was approved following a positive planning-commission recommendation.

Why this matters: zoning changes alter allowable land uses and can change neighborhood character, traffic and commercial development. Several of the approved rezonings were near commercial nodes and the Eastern Shore Center, which council members also discussed in a separate agenda item.

Council action: The council voted on each ordinance by roll call; votes were recorded on the official record. Where the planning commission recommended approval, the council generally followed that recommendation; where the commission recommended denial, the council denied the rezoning.

Next steps: Adopted ordinances become part of the city’s zoning code and will be reflected in the city’s planning maps and permitting process. The failed application remains at its existing zoning classification unless the applicant submits a new request.","The Spanish Fort City Council approved multiple zoning ordinance amendments and one rezoning failed after a negative planning-commission recommendation and public comment opposing the change.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6178290,"Spanish Fort pushes forward on Eastern Shore Center road, athletic-field plan as county funding aligns",1865,707000,2572000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa&start=707&end=2572","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5322085-ad6b201a0da7e4b4cdd583e4614646fa/thumbnail_707000.jpg","/articles/6178290/Spanish-Fort/Baldwin-County/Alabama/Spanish-Fort-pushes-forward-on-Eastern-Shore-Center-road-athletic-field-plan-as-county-funding-aligns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178290-5e0e7257995e3fd36a451a59da89262c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771129010&Signature=QowsJKRCnoRqwtRR8fGzDYgDych2QYVEoqoKbnCWFsTacZrdDKL3ymGTRT1YfBRQWZ6rGtTo8KrNqMlXnmglGlZalFL-ZJRtSEGyweUW9u9ZJhucptzm8CBZKUmceEQDAJ1LRzhxrJy4fY3p6p~w9FfJDGv9skkjqoXs~NzJRlH1IW9DvpVUAwjTrD~c6BTstStD5khxvZDJUKfODdZ25aWCXlPu8nxkKDkjZKM61r6RNx8mdPEP1n9cNlh5kATg5tRkRkl2fCLy-HqLjbjgrBfr6WHNOJx237ZI43~63wxfVr30nBo4jnryAU1TETMjX2UORyZeH2t4EmvSmiK83A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Spanish Fort officials outlined a proposed expansion of the Eastern Shore Center cooperative improvement district and an accompanying road and athletic-field project, and the city council voted to approve the plan in concept and forward it to the Baldwin County Commission for consideration.

David Connor, a city staff member, told the council the project would use a donated 80-foot right of way from Eastern Shore Lanes owners Sonya and Butch Cole to provide a new access road and create connectivity between Old Highway 31 and Eastern Shore Boulevard. “They have agreed to donate 80 foot right of way across their property,” Connor said, adding that the donation was “the linchpin” that allowed the project to move forward.

The project as described by Connor would pursue county infrastructure funding that the council said has been made available through a Baldwin County program (referred to in the meeting as a roughly $30,000,000 fund). Connor said the county indicated it could fund 50% of road construction costs while the city and other partners would provide the match. City officials estimated the roadwork at about $7,000,000 with the city’s share around $3,500,000, and said they intend to use CID revenue rather than general-tax dollars for the city portion.

Why this matters: the proposal combines transportation improvements sought by the county — including alternate routes to ease congestion on Old Highway 31 and near Rockwell Elementary School — with a regional-scale athletics complex that the city says would meet local need and support sports tourism. Connor described a conceptual site with up to 10 baseball fields, a “miracle field” for special-needs users, turf surfaces for multipurpose use, parking, sidewalks, and stormwater ponds that could serve as regional detention.

Supporting details and partners: Connor said Malbus Plantation and Lewis Sterling (their representative), Sawgrass Consulting and engineer Ursula Godwin, and the Eastern Shore Center CID are active partners. He said the CID has produced income streams that paid earlier improvements and repaving for Eastern Shore Boulevard, and that the CID had expressed consent to the general concept at a recent meeting.

Connor characterized the timing as urgent: “the stars have lined up, they are lining up,” and said about $14,000,000 of the county funding had been pledged toward municipal projects when he spoke, with earlier reports that $10,000,000 had been pledged. He urged the council to show support so the county commission would consider the agreement on its upcoming agenda.

Council action: A council member moved to “approve the project in its general terms, subject to approval of any other agreements deemed necessary to finalize all contracts and agreements between the respective parties.” The motion was seconded and carried on a roll-call vote (recorded votes: Smith — yes; Gustafson — yes; Perry — yes; Wynne — yes; Brabner — yes; Mayor — yes). The motion stated it was an approval of the general concept and that all contracts and agreements would be finalized later.

Open items and next steps: city staff said final engineering, land-acquisition negotiations with Malbus Plantation and Eastern Shore Lanes, and related intergovernmental agreements remain to be completed; Sawgrass was working on drawings and cost estimates to support grant applications. Connor and council members said the next immediate step is to transmit a positive message to the Baldwin County Commission so the county can consider the project in its near-term funding decisions.

No vote in council tonight created binding construction contracts; the council’s vote expressed support for the concept and authorized staff to move forward with necessary agreements and to coordinate with the county and CID.

","City leaders presented a plan to expand the Eastern Shore Center cooperative improvement district (CID) to build new road connections and as many as 10 athletic fields, backed in part by a potential $30 million county infrastructure program. The council voted to approve the project in general terms and advance it to the Baldwin County Commission.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council holds Riviera Utilities franchise, introduces park rules, sawgrass drainage contracts and JAG grant application

Spanish Fort council asks Army Corps to reconsider Mobile Bay dredge disposal plan

City awards $197,167 resurfacing contract for five Spanish Fort streets

Council approves several rezonings, rejects one mobile-home zoning change

Spanish Fort pushes forward on Eastern Shore Center road, athletic-field plan as county funding aligns