FOLEY, Ala. — It was damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead, Monday as Foley City Council members agreed to sell the huge painting that once hung in the Foley Public Library depicting the Battle of Mobile Bay in 1864.

Minutes after agreeing to sell the painting, council members approved a resolution accepting a rate quote of $200,000 insurance coverage on the mural.

The Battle of Mobile Bay took place Aug. 5, 1864, and Rear Adm. David Farragut of the Union Navy overcame the Confederate fleet and took control of Mobile Bay. Fort Morgan was captured Aug. 23, 1864.

“The city doesn’t need a $200,000 painting,” Mayor John Koniar said on Tuesday in reference to council action the day before.

Koniar noted the insurance rate on the painting is $3,600 annually.

“It deserves to be preserved better than we’re capable of,” he said, noting the painting originally hung in the Grand Hotel.

Of late the big painting has hung in the conference room at Foley City Hall.

In other council action on Monday, a resolution was approved for application for an Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) FY2009 Transportation Enhancement Grant whose funds would be used to construct a 6-foot wide sidewalk from 9th Avenue to Orchid Avenue along South Cedar Street, a mile and a half sidewalk. Estimated project cost is $450,000 with the city’s share to be $90,000.

Council members approved a Retail Beer (On or Off Premises) and Retail Table Wine (On or Off Premises) license for Courtyard Cafe LLC under the trade name of Courtyard Cafe for their location at 105 W. Orange Ave.

Foley Police Department recommended approval of the action, which will now be sent to the ABC Board in Montgomery for final approval.

Also approved was a resolution to purchase an 8-foot by 40-foot storage container in the amount of $2,000 for storing the model train at the Railroad Museum.

A resolution was approved accepting Volkert & Associates’ Task Agreement #1 in the amount of $35,700 for Cedar Street drainage improvements.

Also, councilmen granted approval of a one-time lump sum bonus for retirees as authorized by a Alabama legislative act. Deadline is Oct. 31, 2008.

A first reading regarding the lifting of a building moratorium in the downtown Historic District was also approved.

The Foley Police Department report for August 2008 reflected 69 misdemeanor and 30 felony arrests. During the month 68 misdemeanor warrants were served and 14 felony warrants.

FPD officers filed 231 incident/offense reports, worked 69 accidents, and gave 121 motorist assists. Officers wrote 283 traffic citations in August, gave out 188 written warnings, and 275 verbal warnings. Eighty-five alarms were handled during the month and 82 cases were assigned to investigations.

Officers made 210 business contacts, 194 citizen contacts and found four unsecured buildings.

The Community Development Department report for August showed 95 permits issued for a total construction valuation of $1,762,933.

City inspectors made 399 inspections during August and CDD handled 19 citizen complaints.