ROBERTSDALE — Those having to pay fines in Robertsdale’s Municipal Court will now have to pay a little more following action by the Robertsdale City Council Monday, Nov. 1.
During its regular meeting, the council voted to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances, increasing Corrections Fund fees by $30 for all traffic and non-traffic violations.
City officials said Monday that the increase is meant to put Robertsdale in line with what other municipalities charge, presenting comparisons to Summerdale, Loxley and Gulf Shores.
Under the terms of the ordinance, traffic violations increased from $171 to $201 with an additional $20 tacked on for driver license violations and an additional $30 for DUI.
Non-traffic violations increased from $228 to $258 with an additional $25 added for domestic violations and $130 added for drug violations.
The city keeps just $17 in fees which go into the general fund. The rest are funds designated by the state and court system.
According to information provided at the Nov. 1 meeting, Summerdale and Gulf Shores fines remain slightly higher at $204 for traffic violations, up to $391.50 for drug violations in Summerdale and $210 for traffic violations, up to $450 for drug violations in Gulf Shores. Loxley’s charges are now lower than Robertsdale, beginning at $176.50 for traffic violations, up to $364 for drug violations.
In other business Nov. 1, the council voted to provide premium pay for all of its city employees, which will be paid for with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act 2021 through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
In July, city officials announced they had received $800,000 in recovery act funds and will receive an additional $800,000 in June of 2022.
City officials have until 2024 to submit a plan of how they are going to spend the money then they have until 2026 to spend the money.
The council adopted a resolution during the Nov. 1 meeting to provide a single payment of $500 to each regular full-time employee and $250 to each regular part-time employee. The city currently has 88 full-time and 12 part-time employees.
City officials also announced Nov. 1 that the city received $2.68 million in FEMA reimbursements from Hurricane Sally recovery efforts during the month of October with another $670,000 in federal reimbursements expected. Mayor Charles Murphy said last month he expected the city to receive all reimbursements by Thanksgiving.
The city expects reimbursements of about $110,000 from the state of Alabama once all FEMA reimbursements are received.
The council also voted Nov. 1 to form a committee to decide on a donation for the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama for the completion of a park and ballfield in Summerdale designed for special needs residents.
“This is a worthy cause and we definitely want to donate,” said Paul Hollingsworth in making the motion to form a committee. “I just have no idea what the proper amount would be and want to be sure before we make a decision.”
Bruce White Jr., founder and president of the Miracle League of Coastal Alabama, gave a video presentation during the council’s work session prior to the regular meeting, stating that the League has raised approximately $11 million and needs about $265,000 to complete the project.
“We’re going to get this done,” he said, “but we need help from municipalities such as yours to get it done.”
A part of the national Miracle League organization based in Conyers, Georgia, White said the vision of Miracle League of Coastal Alabama began initially as the Miracle League of Pleasure Island in 2004, but after delays caused by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and the Gulf Coast oil spill in 2006, plans shifted to building the baseball field and playground facility in Summerdale.
After breaking ground on the facility in July of 2019, the project was delayed again by COVID-19, White said.
“We had applied for grant funds and while we are still expecting to receive some grant money, most of the funds we were looking for are now giving money to COVID-related projects,” White said. “We have always looked to receive support from municipalities. We just had to move those plans forward somewhat.”
The city of Orange Beach recently committed $20,000 to the project, White said, and said they would match all other donations received from municipalities in Baldwin County up to $100,000. Miracle League also has commitments from Gulf Shores, Elberta, Magnolia Springs and Summerdale.
White said the goal is to receive $20,000 from each of the county’s larger municipalities, $10,000 from mid-size municipalities, then whatever smaller municipalities are willing to give.
Robertsdale officials said they should be able to make a commitment by the council’s next meeting, which is set for Nov. 15 at 8 a.m.
Also on Nov. 1, the council:
