Spanish Fort council adopts two fiber franchises, introduces zoning and contract items

Spanish Fort City Council unanimously adopted two ordinances authorizing nonexclusive franchises for Unity Fiber and Southern Light on Jan. 27 and introduced several other agenda items including zoning changes, bids for a parking lot and pickleball complex, a property acquisition contract and a proposed animal-shelter agreement.

The council approved amendments ratifying earlier franchise ordinances for Unity Fiber Gulfco LLC and Southern Light and agreed to a clarified Appendix C that more precisely allocates and describes application and payment of the minimum license fee. “They requested to have 2 franchises and this franchise, was approved. And they have signed and executed it, but there was a revision that was made to appendix c to more clearly allocate and describe the application and payment of the minimum license fee,” Miss Connor said during the discussion.

Why it matters: the franchise approvals clear the way for two fiber providers to operate in the city under clarified fee terms. The meeting also advanced several procurement and land-use items that will return for formal votes at upcoming meetings, and the council recessed into executive session to discuss personnel, pending litigation and a potential real-estate purchase.

The council voted to suspend rules and consider ordinance 697-2025…