The Fairhope City Council voted Nov. 10 to award a maintenance dredging contract for Fly Creek and authorize a memorandum of understanding with the Fairhope Yacht Club to share costs for the project.

City Engineer Richard Johnson told the council the city received six competitive bids; the low bid recommendation was M & N of Alabama. During the regular meeting the council approved a resolution awarding the project with a bid proposal not to exceed $717,774 and later authorized the mayor to execute an MOU in which the yacht club will pay 50% of the main‑channel project cost as presented in the MOU.

Johnson described two contract components: the shared main channel (paid 50/50 under the MOU) and a separate upper‑channel line item that serves slip holders and would be 100% city cost (Johnson estimated that work would add roughly $68,000 on the low bid). He said the permit allows dredging to 10 feet (two feet beyond an 8‑foot permit depth) and that prior dredging achieved roughly six years of service before storms accelerated sedimentation.

On material handling, Johnson said the project permit allows dewatering of dredged material and placement on the beach. "When it is put on the beach, it looks almost black. But after a day or two of weathering it turns to that same tan as the rest of the sand on the beach," he said.

The council approved both the award and the MOU by voice vote. Council discussion referenced potential long‑term measures — including extending jetties — to reduce future dredging frequency.

Next steps: staff will finalize the MOU, coordinate permitting and begin project scheduling with the awarded contractor.

Votes: Resolution to award contract (bid not to exceed $717,774) — approved by the council. Resolution authorizing MOU with Fairhope Yacht Club (50% cost share) — approved by the council.