SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Spanish Fort residents must wait even longer to learn whether cell phone reception on the causeway and bayway will improve if the council votes yes to rezone property at 1595 Battleship Parkway from R-1—single-family low-residential district—to T-1—telecommunications district.

The council voted to postpone the public hearing on rezoning until the Nov. 17 meeting, set for 6 pm. City leaders did, however, allow those who came to the public hearing Monday to air their views about a proposed 180-foot telecommunications tower.

Resident Ronnie Gibson at the public hearing said that the causeway should be an “ecotourism destination” and that a tower would be “quite an eyesore.” Gibson said he thinks the council should consider another location, not on the causeway.

Andrew Rotenstreich, a Birmingham-based attorney who represents AT&T Mobility and the landowner, said AT&T is in talks with the landowner of the property at 1525 Battleship Parkway.

“AT&T will report back to the council to let them know if the deal doesn’t work out,” Rotenstreich said.

The Planning Commission reviewed an application for rezoning the property at 1525 Battleship Parkway from R-1 to T-1 at the old, pink Ramada Inn on the causeway.

Another public hearing—this one, open to the community’s comments on the budget for the city’s 2008-09 fiscal year—will be during the Oct. 20 meeting, set for 6 p.m. The second draft of the budget  “is still a bit of a work in progress,” Rebecca Gaines, who sat in for City

The city has an estimated amount of expenditures of $6.5 million for the general operations budget. The allowable revenue for the second budget draft is about that much, for general operations, according to city documents.

Copies of the second draft are available at City Hall for review, Mayor Joe Bonner said.

In other city news:

One to five years can earn 80 hours of leave per year; five to 15 years can earn 120 hours; 15 to 25 years can earn 160 hours; and 25 years or more can earn 200 hours of leave per year. 

Police officers who work 12-hour shifts can earn 84 hours for one to five years of service; 126 hours for five to 15 years of service; 168 hours for 15 to 25 years; and 210 hours for 25 years or more.

A motion was made by Councilwoman Mary Brabner to carry the resolution over to the next meeting.

The council will also vote at the Oct. 20 meeting on the sick-leave policy as part of the personnel manual of the city. A motion was made to carry the item over to the next meeting.

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 20 at The Gathering Place—located at the intersection of U.S. Highways 31 and 98—in the Prodisee shopping center.