FOLEY, Ala. — A $1.5 million project to extend Airport Road to Baldwin County Road 24 produced extended discussion Tuesday between two residents who have concerns over the project and the mayor and city council.

“I don’t believe perhaps enough study was done to take this road to County Road 24,” Mary King of Winwood Subdivision said during visitor comments at Tuesday’s city council meeting.

King called County Road 24 an “inadequate road by DOT (Department of Transportation) standards … pretty much just a paved road.”

The Airport Road extension, which is in the process of being bid out, is aimed at removing truck traffic from Fern Avenue and helping out the B.F. Goodrich plant. King called it a “wonderful thing” to get trucks off Fern, but also spoke of the possibility of “catastrophic crashes” that could occur by funneling tractor-trailers onto 24.

According to King, legal counsel she has consulted about the Airport Road extension to 24 say the project “is embarking on a very dangerous road,” a reference to what King alleged are inadequate road width and setbacks and illegal truck turns that have been ongoing to this point.

She asked the council to consider other alternatives: county roads 32 and 28, both of which King said have “unbelievable visibility,” and even buying property and creating an access road from the Goodrich plant, which is one of Foley’s largest employers.

“You’re asking us to put the problem on someone else,” Mayor John Koniar told King of her opposition to County Road 24. She said that wasn’t the case.

Koniar said 24 was the better option, and Councilman Ralph Hellmich told King, “We’ve looked at alternatives.”

The discussion included much about road widths, setbacks and rights of way, even the width of tractor-trailers that would be going and coming from the Goodrich plant. Koniar said the city’s GIS (Geographic Information Systems) data conflicts with some of the figures King used to make her argument. Also, Councilman Rick Blackwell said the trucks used at Goodrich are eight-feet wide, less than what King said.

“I beg you to please think of something else,” King told the mayor and council.

The mayor said the council will explore King’s concerns with the city attorney.

Harold Bryson, who lives at LiveOak Village, “100 feet from County Road 24,” told the council he supports King’s concerns. He said he would like to see County Road 24 widened and something done about speeding on the road.

“There is available money out there,” he said, addressing Police Chief David Wilson in a reference to money the city can make from speeding tickets that could be handed out on 24.

In other council action, the city continues to crack down on grass and weed violators. Prior to the council meeting, five public hearing were held, four of which had to do with violations of the City Grass and Weed Abatement Ordinances. Three of the four properties in question had been abated, so no further action was necessary. No public comments were heard regarding the remaining violations at Kendall Brook Subdivision, Phase II.

During the council meeting, resolutions were approved to set public hearings declaring weeds to be a public nuisance at the following addresses: 507 S. Cedar St.; 200 E. Orange Ave.; 21480 U.S. Hwy. 98; 305 S. Stuart St.; 431 W. Fern Ave.; 613 W. Orchid Ave.; 1815 Candlestick Ct. West; 2679 E. Ashford Park Dr.; and vacant lots at Ashford Park, Unit 8.

Resolutions were approved declaring Grass and Weed Ordinance violations at 17926 Fancy Blvd. and Kendall Brook Subdivision, Phase II.

The council, with Foley Police Department’s recommendation, agreed to recommend approval of a Restaurant retail Liquor license for Margarita’s Tortilleria and Taqueria at 1331 5 S. Commercial Dr.

Regarding Board reappointments, Sheila Hodges was reappointed to the Board of Adjustments & Appeals and Bob Graham and Charlie Fisher to the Senior Citizens Board.

The council approved a restructuring resolution that will result in three employees with the Community Development Department having the option to take an offer to move to the Library and Police Department with full benefits. The mayor said following the meeting that the three’s workload at CDD didn’t justify their presence.

The council agreed to waive Civic Center fees for a Celebration of Life on Sept. 26, 2009, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., for Stan Mahoney, the executive director of Wolf Bay Watershed Watch, who died recently. Mahoney’s wife, Jessy, was on hand Tuesday to hear the mayor read a proclamation declaring Sept. 26 as “Stan Mahoney Day.”

The council also approved a proclamation declaring Sept. 17-23 as “Constitution Week.” On hand for the proclamation reading were members of the Fort Bowyer Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Council members approved an adjustment in the Riviera Utilities Board compensation from $140 to $200 a month for directors and from $175 to $300 a month for the chairman. “Getting in line with state standards,” is what Councilman Hellmich said of the adjustments. The mayor and Councilman Charlie Ebert III abstained.

A 2010 Census Partner Proclamation was approved. Mayor Koniar said the 2010 census would be “very important to citizens of Foley” as regards, for one, redistricting. He said census information would be coming out in the mail, and those who don’t return the information will eventually be contacted at home for census information.

A first reading was approved of amendments to the Zoning Ordinance that establish additional regulations for unrelated people living together in one-dwelling units. With the economy being what it is at present, the mayor said situations exist where multiple unrelated people/families live in the same house. Hellmich said similar ordinances are being put in place all over the country. The mayor said the proposed amendments have been reviewed by the city attorney.

Approval was given to waive fees for Foley Police Department’s use of Heritage Park on Oct. 18, 2009, for a Hispanic Festival.

A one-year lease agreement was approved for the Foley Convention & Visitors Bureau.