COMMUNITY CALENDAR: Ongoing and Upcoming Events, PAGE 4 Common Colds: protect yourself and others, PAGE 17 Little food pantry making a big The Islander difference, PAGE 6 INSIDE FEBRUARY 15, 2017 | GulfCoastNewsToday.com | 75¢ Gulf Shores talks SAFER grant, Orange Beach moves forward on bridge projects, County Road 6 new lifeguard tower The 11th Annual Low By CRYSTAL COLE Country Boil By CRYSTAL COLE [email protected] [email protected] will be held from 11 a.m. to 2:45 Orange Beach city leaders are p.m. on Friday, Feb. 17 at the Fire Chief Hartly Broken- looking into constructing their own Gulf Coast Zoo. There are four shaw approached the Gulf lifeguard towers after shipping Shores City Council about a different seating times. Your costs for pre-made structures far ex- federal grant that could give ticket also includes entry to ceeded expectations. Aquatics Direc- the city the ability to expand the zoo at your convenience. tor Melvin Shepard told the council its fire protection services. Tickets available through the shipping for the lifeguard towers the Brokenshaw said the city has zoo and snowbird clubs. The council had been discussing would the opportunity to apply for cost is $13, which includes a be $4,331.40, though the cost would the grant now, which will help be split with funds given by the vol- drink (soda, tea, coffee) except supplement the salaries of new unteer fire department board. beer. Beer is $2. For more firefighters. “When I first started speaking information, call 251-968-5731. “The grant is made available with the agency that builds the To see more calendar items, through FEMA and is called lifeguard towers and asked for turn to Page 4. a SAFER grant, which stands shipping costs, he could not give for Staffing Adequate Fire and me concrete costs,” Shepard said. Emergency Response,” Bro- “They’re oversized, and they have to kenshaw said. “It’s a three-year be permitted from California to here performance period that it goes in each state.” Shepard said he had through.” approached other areas that had or- Brokenshaw said the grant dered from the same company to try worked on a graduated scale, to defray some of the costs, but said The 25th Annual with the city having to pick up Orange Beach a larger portion of the sala- SEE TOWER, PAGE 2 Seafood Festival ries as the three years of the grant passed. “The first year, will be held Saturday, Feb. 18 the city would have to pay 20 from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at percent, the second year they’d Beach access battle 4830 Main Street in Orange have to pay 25 percent and the Beach. The festival is a major third year they’d have to pay PHOTO COURTESY OF THE CITY OF GULF SHORES brews in Gulf Shores fundraiser for the Orange 65 percent,” Brokenshaw said. This map shows the proposed improvement areas of the intersection of “After the third year, the grant Beach Sports Association to Hwy. 59 and County Rd. 6. By CRYSTAL COLE support sports-related activi- is done away with and the city [email protected] ties in our community, specifi- would have to assume the whole hire employees before, but said that we’ve been having in the amount, but would not be obli- Planning Director Andy Bauer cally youth baseball, softball some of the requirements to north area of our community, gated to keep the personnel on brought a zoning ordinance and t-ball. Proceeds are used to receive the grant had changed. it’s really a requirement for us if they didn’t need them.” amendment before the Gulf purchase uniforms, equip- Brokenshaw added there were to continue to move forward,” Brokenshaw said the city cur- Shores City Council that could ment, insurance and pay for potential expansion capabilities Dyken said. “We’re doing rently staffs four stations with change beach access rights for expenses of officials and spon- in the Oyster Bay area, where so very judiciously, though, a maximum of three personnel some areas. The proposed amend- he urged the city to try to ac- because we don’t want to over- sor clinics. The Festival is a full at each station. He said with the ment would allow cottage devel- quire property currently owned extend our personnel.” Dyken day of delicious food, 80 arts grant, they could allow stations opments and subdivisions on the by Riviera Utilities which could said the finance committee had and crafts vendors, military to stay fully staffed and still be north side of Beach Boulevard be used to help enlarge the de- unanimous support for moving memorabilia and music for the able to cut down on overtime. two potential options for beach partment’s operations in that forward with both requests. whole family. This is an alcohol- “We’re planning on applying for access. “The first option would be area. Councilman Jason Dyken Brokenshaw added that be- free event. The festival includes three firefighter/EMT positions for cottage subdivisions and de- said the city’s finance commit- cause the response times will a silent auction, car show through the SAFER grant,” velopments to use existing beach Brokenshaw said. tee had researched both of the be cut tremendously, property featuring antique, classic and access,” Bauer said. “There’s a Brokenshaw said the city proposals. hot rod vehicles, a Kids Zone limit of had used SAFER grants to help “With the growth of calls SEE BRIDGE, PAGE 2 SEE ACCESS, PAGE 2 with climbing wall, inflatables and games and a children’s performance pavilion. DEATHS PAGE 22 LuLu’s Annual Vow Renewal Sandra J. Black Daniel Pierre Deneau John James Dennehy Arlene Allert Hails Diane White Hartley Frances Palmes Jacques Owen Curtis Kimes Edward Murphy PHOTOS COURTESY OF LULU’S Love birds of all ages made the pilgrimage to LuLu’s Saturday Darryl Prejean for the annual vow renewal celebration on the beach. Couples Robert L. Shelton Sr. enjoyed the festivities with a complimentary champagne toast, Jeannine C. Smith complimentary wedding cake, flowers for the "brides", certifi- cates of re-union and some live music. INDEX Gulf BALDWIN LIVING, 6-7 OPINION, 9-10 Coast CLASSIFIED, 24-25 PUZZLES, 36 Media HEALTH, 14-17 SPORTS, 11-13 VOLUME 41 • ISSUE 8 LEGALS, 26-35 TV LISTINGS, 18-21 1 SECTION • 40 PAGES 2 • The Islander • February 15, 2017 • Gulf Coast Media BRIDGE offset the additional design County Road 6 which will create additional ACCESS CONTINUED FROM 1 fees, but added an increase Improvements west bound and east bound CONTINUED FROM 1 in the contract amount for Acreman told the coun- lanes. $13,580 helped lower costs “Essentially what it does owners in that area would cil his department had 20 units.” Bauer said the second option would overall. “These additional is create a right-turn only likely see a reduction in fire been working with the allow cottage developments to obtain new services allowed us to lane if you’re south bound insurance costs. planning commission to beach accesses. shave $100,000 off of the bid off of County Road 6 west,” address ongoing traffic is- “This would only be allowed after the pro- amount,” Acreman said. Acreman said. “It will put Bridge Projects sues at County Road 6 and cessing of a conditional use permit through The bridge is located on in a right turn deceleration Public Works Direc- Highway 59. “There’s some the planning commission, city council and Highway 59 near the Origi- lane if you’re south bound tor Mark Acreman asked future developments com- public notification,” Bauer said. “That beach nal Oyster House. While the onto County Road 6 West council members for their ing in, and they’re going access, if obtained, would also be limited to bid amount is for the entire on the north, as well as a approval of an addendum to need some major traffic 20 units.” Bauer said the city adopted beach project, only the east side is merge lane for a period of to a contract with Thomp- infrastructure,” Acreman access regulations in 2005, restricting access currently undergoing con- time.” son Engineering for the said. “They’re going to from the north side of the beach to the south struction changes. Acreman said his depart- redesign of the Highway 59 have to put it in in advance side. “The primary reasons for that are people Acreman added that ment hopes the project will bridge plans. of that, and there’s some living on the north side or living on the north while they were discussing continue westbound until Acreman said when the major traffic being gener- side of Beach Boulevard want to cross Beach bridges, he felt it necessary the money runs out. The city initially bid the proj- ated just by the Sportsplex.” Boulevard and go to beach on the south side,” to bring up that Alabama project also calls for the ect, the only bid received Acreman said he had a pro- Bauer said. “Also, the city lacks public and Department of Transporta- installment of new mast was from Thompson and posal from Volkert and As- private beach access for all the users who wish tion mandated bridge in- arm signals at the intersec- was slightly more than $1 sociates to completely redo to utilize our beach.” Bauer told the council he spections would be coming tion that will feature new million. Through negotia- the intersection there. felt the amendment had a balance that would soon. city signage. Acreman said tion with Thompson, the For an amount not to satisfy several competing interests.