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

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.