Fairhope, Alabama    S. Hwy 181 NEW 16 INCH SOUTHSIDE PIPE During Monday's meeting, the city council will consider hiring Kimey Horn to do engineering for a new 16-inch diameter sewer main and two new lift stations along Highway 181 south of town, where several new neighborhoods (or neighborhood expansions) are under construction or already approved (in areas now under Baldwin County's Planning and Zoning jurisdiction). The new pipe will begin at the Laurelbrook neighborhood south of CR 32 and extend all the way north to CR 48, Fairhope Avenue. Engineering cost not-to-excee ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    Week's Bay Bog.  NATURE TRAIL The state project to replace the decayed, wooden boardwalk at the Weeks Bay Pitcher Plant Bog on CR 17 south of Fairhope that began last January is about 75% complete. About two thousand feet is being replaced -- with improvements made to the nearby parking area as well.  The $450K project was funded by a federal NOAA grant, with state matching funds from the ADCNR (Department of Conservation, Natural Resources). Completion still expected by summer. The trail runs from the highway all the way to a dock on Fish R ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama Greeno Road Smart Bank branch. WATER/SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS The city council voted unanimously to borrow $25 million at 4.1 percent interest from Connecticut-based Webster Bank to continue current upgrades to the city's Water/Sewer system. The two-year term loan was needed to resolve "cash flow" issues related to large expenditures for numerous capacity upgrades underway. Revenue streams (including grants) can be irregular over the budget year, causing periodic shortfalls when paying for such large projects, according to Treasurer Creech. This account will be us ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    Fairhope pier marina damaged. April 10 photo.   APRIL 10 STORM Some of the docks at the marina at the main pier were damaged by last week's storms.  We reached out to the city for repair plans but have not heard back yet. The city owns the marina but the restaurant owner operates it, according to terms of its lease agreement with the city.  'The Blind Tiger Fairhope' restaurant announced recently it would finally be opening May; not sure yet how this damage affects that.  The outer seawall is frequently damaged by storms is ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    Boy's relay. Boys hurdles.  HIGH SCHOOLS COMPETE The Baldwin County High School Track Championships were held today at the city's new Founder's Park facility.   Fairhope High boys team finished number one overall; girls number three.  Complete results may be found here.   Girl's javelin. Boy's pole vault. http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheFairhopeTimes ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama      Fairhope library. The long-awaited expansion of the second floor of the library has begun. During their February 15 meeting, the city council awarded low-bidder Witherington Construction the contract to remodel the library's second floor for $812K. The Friends of the Library Foundation non-profit organization was responsible for raising the money for the project, but with the lions share coming from the city and Single Tax Corporation (over $700K); it also developed the design and hired the architect Mott MacDonald of Daphne. The plan includes a ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    North hangar. RFP   SONNY CALLAHAN AIRPORT During the Airport Authority's monthly meeting Tuesday, a resolution approving a new lease agreement with Continental Aerospace Technologies (click) for continued use of the north hangar was approved by members; and simultaneously a RFP (request for proposals) for a new FBO (fixed base operator) to begin on October 15 was issued (to replace Continental). A final sticking-point about who would carry the insurance for the north hangar was finally worked out (Continental would); a representative fro ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    New location. Daphne's Fitness court   LOCATION CHANGED After a discussion during the April 8 city council work session, the council unanimously decided to locate the new Fitness Court adjacent the Mike Ford Tennis Center in Stimpson Park -- instead of under the bluff east of the city's rose garden on property recently acquired by the city. Last June, the council authorized applying for a $40K grant for the facility (which was received), and agreed to contribute another $40K to the $120K total cost (Rotary Club donated another $40K); at t ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama      FISCAL YEAR 2023  The financial audit for the year ending last September 30 has been completed by the Warren Averett accounting firm of Montgomery, according to Treasurer Kim Creech. Sales and property tax revenue was up by about $1 million each, but lodging tax revenue was only about $100K higher. The city's net position (assets vs. liabilities) increased by 11.5% (about $26 million). There were 7,184 electric customers, 13,014 natural gas, 21,300 water/sewer -- and 11,546 for garbage pick-up. The city had 482 employees, 79 in the police department ..read more

Fairhope, Alabama    Possible hotel deign.   New 'Park City' PUD proposal.   FAIRHOPE AVENUE AT HWY 181 Architects for the new owners ('181 Fairhope Avenue Llc.') of property at the northwest corner of Fairhope Avenue and Hwy 181 presented conceptual designs to the planning commission for a new planned unit development for the property, to be called 'Park City Village' -- which includes a four story 148-room hotel. Other components could include: 94 town homes, 62 cottages, 151 senior citizen housing, and over 102K square feet of commercial space -- incl ..read more