Fairhope businessman and community volunteer Vann Saltz was honored during last Monday evening’s City Council meeting.

Saltz recently decided to retire, closing Eastern Shore Sporting Goods, a family business he had operated for 32 years. Mayor Tim Kant declared Sept. 10 as Vann Saltz Day in Fairhope in recognition of his service to the business community as well his many contributions to civic, schools, church and charitable organizations in the Fairhope area.

In acknowledging Saltz’s volunteerism, Kant read an extensive list of leadership roles he had filled over the years, including vice president of the Fairhope Booster Club for five years, executive patron at Fairhope High School for five years, in charge of Fairhope High School football concessions for five years, member of the Fairhope Recreation Board for five years, officer in Fairhope Youth Baseball since 1978, officer in Fairhope Youth Soccer since 1981, District 7 director of Alabama Dixie Youth Baseball organization, past member of the city of Fairhope supervisory committee, past president of the Fairhope Elementary School PTC, past president of Fairhope Middle School PTC, former trustee FMS and chairman FMS golf tourney for five years, committee co-chair for the FHS drawdown, chairman of Meet the Pirates Pancake Breakfast for six years, organizer of the Eastern Shore Church Softball League for 12 years, active member of First Baptist Church of Fairhope where he has served as chairman of deacons and currently serves as chairman of the Vision Team and fellowship committee.

“I don’t know how one person can do so much for this community,” Kant said.

“Thank you mayor and council for this honor. Fairhope has been a wonderful place to have been born and been raised in — to meet the girl of my dreams and marry and have two wonderful children and be involved in a community like Fairhope.”

Saltz and his wife, Brenda, have two grown sons, Grant and Jared.

During the meeting, the council approved a 120-day moratorium on modular buildings within the city limits and 1.5 miles permitting jurisdiction.

Attorney for the city Chris Gill said modular homes, which are built at a factory, are permitted by the state at the factory site and ensure the product complies with the international building code. The only permitting authority for the city, he said, is the foundational permit and external utility connection.

A subdivision of modular homes can be built in one/fourth the time it takes to build an “on-site” subdivision, he said.

“If the city council is interested in looking at zoning controls for these homes similar to those for mobile or manufactured homes, the moratorium would give us 120 days to look into this.”

City Treasurer Nancy Wilson clarified some information on the library bridge loan presented at the previous council meeting.

“The balance on that loan is currently $1,290,000. In looking at planning … we looked at the worst case scenario at what it could possibly be. We wanted to put a cap on the most that we ever could borrow for the library. So that’s how we came to the number that was presented to you: $1,458,000.”

She said they had renewed the line of credit but have not borrowed “an additional penny.”

Because of recent property tax and insurance increases for many residents in the area, Mayor Kant asked the council to consider a couple of things as they work on the new budget.

“If we don’t do anything with the millage that’s collected, it will be almost a 33 percent increase. I’m proposing you think long and hard about giving a one-time tax cut of two mills. There’s also a 4 percent COLA raise in there for city employees.”

He added that with the millage cut, the total proposed budget would be $52,202,506 with net earnings of $2,462,604.

In other action, the council:

• Voted to send a letter to the County Commission reiterating the council's support of the County Road 13 project. The council gave its support to the project several years ago.

• The council approved the removal of the moratorium on issuance of building permits for properties abutting U.S. Highway 181 within the city limits and police jurisdiction.

• Approved the minutes of the Aug. 27 meeting.

• Approved the adjustments for the FY 2006-07 budget.

• Approved a restaurant liquor license by Tammy Diane Middleton, doing business as Gambino's, located at 18 Laurel Ave.

• Approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a contract between the city the Alabama Department of Transportation and Sain Associations Inc. for the development of Access Management Plan for State Highway 181. The city's portion will not exceed $30,000. The total amount of this project is $89,989. (ST-002-181-002).

• Approved replacing Resolution 1038, which sets forth rules and regulations for operation of the Fairhope Municipal Civic Center Complex, 161 N. Section St.

• Approved replacing Resolution 1074-04, which sets forth rules and regulations for operation of the James P. Nix Center, One Bayou Drive.

• Layed over two requests for licenses by Roger N. Lartigue, doing business as Lartigue's Seafood Inc., located at 19344 Scenic Highway 98 until the owner could choose which he preferred to have: a restaurant liquor license or a beer/wine on/off premises license.

• Approved payment of the monthly bills for August, which totaled $2,060,573-47: General Fund, $320,272.38; Gas Fund, $200,046.37; Electric Fund, $1,298,627.85; Water and Sewer, $208,059.44; Golf, $23,481.69; 7 Gas Tax/4 Gas Tax, $944.84; and capital projects, $9,140.90.

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be Monday, Sept. 24, 5:30 p.m., in the Council Chamber.