Despite the extreme afternoon heat that has blanketed the area in the past weeks, Robertsdale citizens turned out to take the 2007 City of Robertsdale Progressive Tour on Aug. 23.

The tour bus left City Hall at 4:30 and 6 p.m., giving the citizens a choice of times. The citizens were greeted by Robertsdale Mayor Charles Murphy, members of the City Council and City Hall employees. Bottles of water and a spiral-bound of photographs and information on the town’s capital investments were provided before the air conditioned tour bus was boarded.

Murphy gave a detailed explanation of each project on the tour, beginning with City Hall, which was renovated at a cost of $99,000. Improvements to the facilities included replacing doors and widows, adding a covered entrance and a concrete wheelchair ramp and painting and resurfacing the parking area. The improvements also assured the city is now in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

One of the sites on the tour was the new $1.6 million waste water treatment plant under construction. Murphy said the new treatment plant will double the city’s sewer capacity and will also handle future sewer needs to the year 2020.

Another stop was as the site of the new $2.2 million fresh water tank, which will soon be completed. The ground tank, will utilize the Miox process of water treatment, which Murphy said is a newer, safer and more reliable way to disinfect drinking water. He explained that the Miox system uses salt, electricity and water to make chlorine. He also said the cost of the ground tank was 50 percent less than the cost of an elevated tank and is also easier to maintain.

Those taking the tour got to see the many improvements that have been made to the recreation facilities at Garrett Park, including new softball fields and concession buildings. Murphy explained each portion of the six-phase improvement plan. The mayor praised city employees who have done much of the work at the park, as well as the drainage project on West Hammond, Barginer and Palmer. “What we have done on many of these projects is act as our own independent contractors,” Murphy said.

When the bus went by the PZK Civic Center, Murphy said the city has recently recieved a $99,000 HUD Grant for improvements to bring the building into compliance with ADA. He said new restrooms and kitchen facilities are planned as well, at a cost of approximately $300,000.

The sidewalk project now under construction, was highlighted and explained by Murphy. Once the sidewalks are completed, they will circle the city. The first phase of the sidewalk project began at Robertsdale Elementary School on College Avenue, north to Highway 90. The second phase is from Highway 90 West, south on Palmer to Garrett Park. Phase three construction take the walk from Garrett Park to Highway 104, east to the Walking Trail. Phase four will be from Robertsdale High School to Silverhill Avenue to College Avenue.

Murphy pointed out the new walking bridge that has been constructed on College, which is a sturdy wooden structure that blends with the surrounding green spaces. He said the cost of the entire project is a little over $1.5 million, with the city providing only $441,172.40 of the cost and grants providing the rest.

The next stop on the tour was the Municipal Complex on Highway 90, which includes US Post Office building, which was completed in May of 2001 at a cost of $1.6 million and the nearby police department building and jail, which was completed in June of 2002 at a cost of $1.4 million.

Murphy said the city receives annual rental revenue of $35,000 from the U.S. Postal Service for the building. He pointed out that the city has future plans to build a new City Hall between the Post Office and the Police Department.

Other capital improvements on the tour included:

— The Thames Senior citizens Center.

— The city-owned building that is used for a Day Care business, which was recently enlarged at a cost of $95,000. Murphy said the annual revenue generated from the lease of the building is $30,000.

— The site where the new Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce building will be built at Highway 59 and Highway 90.

— Beautification projects such as the flowers that have been planted at City Hall, the many new brick signs marking city buildings and recreation facilities, and flowers at Veterans Park.

Murphy said he has heard many positive comments from those who took the tour. “There was a lot of interest from the community and people seemed pleased with what they saw and with the work that is being done by the council and the city employees,” he said.

The mayor said many positive comments were made to him about the new athletic facilities at Garrett Park and the sidewalks. “I think it went extremely well,” he said.