City to advertise for bids on Public Works Complex

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ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The Robertsdale City Council voted at its Monday, Nov. 18 meeting to authorize the advertisement for bods on the city’s new Public Works Complex, which will be constructed on property the city owns on Chicago Street north of the police station.

A representative of Adams Stewart Architects presented plans for the project at the Robertsdale City Council meeting Sept. 16 and requested at the Nov. 18 meeting that the city move forward with the bid process.

The more than $3.7 million project, which is considered to be Phase 2 of an improvement project surrounding Honeybee Park, which the city plans to complete as part of its Centennial Celebration in 2021, calls for a 23,000 square foot administration office, along with five additional buildings, two warehouses, a mechanic shop, equipment shed and maintenance shop, a total of just under 63,000 square feet.

The facility will be built to withstand hurricane-force winds and is designed to house city employees and anyone who comes in to assist with storm cleanup and power restoration following a storm, which means it will also be equipped for use as a temporary shelter with housing, kitchen and shower facilities.

Phase 1 of the project was dedicated on July 4 and included the installation of new sidewalks, which increase booth space for the annual Honeybee Festival. Existing sidewalks which surround the park were also removed and replaced.

Brick columns surround the park, along with a brick entranceway at the south end of the park and the pavilion, which is located on the east side in the middle of the park. Additional improvements include landscaping, additional parking and restroom facilities.

The majority of the brickwork for the project was done by David Wilson Masonry Inc. of Summerdale.

Phase 3 of the park improvement project will be the construction of an amphitheater on the property where the Utilities Barn is currently located, featuring local entertainment, with additional parking and restroom facilities surrounding the structure. Estimated cost for that project will be around $1 million.

In other business Nov. 18, the council approved the purchase of a 2002 E-One Cyclone II 95-foot Platform vehicle for the city’s Volunteer Fire Department.

Robertsdale Fire Chief Nick Moore said the vehicle is currently being used by the Nassau County, Florida, fire department.

“We were able to go over there and ride along with them,” Moore said. “This has everything we’re looking for to meet our needs.”

Moore said the fire department is asking $250,000, but said they would be willing to come down to $200,000.

“We’re hoping to get them to knock off a little bit more,” he said. “Our plan is to ask $180,000 and go from there.”

The council authorized Moore to spend up to $200,000 for the new vehicle. Robertsdale Police Chief Brad Kendrick, who is also the Public Safety director for the city, said the department plans to surplus a 1991 Engine and a 1991 Rescue Truck once the new vehicle is purchased.

Moore said the department currently has enough money in its equipment budget to purchase the vehicle and will not have to borrow any money to pay for it.