SPANISH FORT, Ala. — In a joint proclamation with the Daphne City Council, the Spanish Fort City Council formally recognized the football programs at Daphne High School and Spanish Fort High School during Monday’s regular meeting.

DHS Football Coach and Athletic Director Glenn Vickery and Bryant Vincent, who formerly held the same position at SFHS before recently joining the staff of the University if South Alabama Jaguars football team, accepted the joint proclamation honoring the football teams’ respective 2010 6A and 5A State Championships.

Daphne City Council President Cathy Barnette along with Daphne District 5 Councilman Ron Scott and Daphne District 6 Councilman Derek Boulware attended for the recognition before traveling to their own regularly scheduled council meeting for an identical recognition ceremony with Spanish Fort council members present.

City complex: first look

Following the proclamation, Mayor Pro Tem Mike McMillan announced residents will get their first official glimpse of plans for a municipal complex during the City Council’s March 21 work session when architects from Forrest Daniel and Associates PC unveil the work in progress.

A public hearing will convene during the council’s meeting immediately following the work session, and residents will have the opportunity to offer input based on the Daphne-based firm’s presentation, he said.

The tentative project design includes the eventual construction of a multipurpose building; administrative building; public works building; Baldwin Rural Area System terminal; senior center; library; post office; two additional buildings to accommodate future growth; and a recreational area. The complex will be constructed on an 18-acre site at the intersections of highways 72 and 31.

Council member sought

McMillan announced formally the vacancy on the council following the recent death of District 3 City Councilman Joe Thomas. The council is charged with filling the vacancy on an interim basis until Thomas’ term expires in November 2012.

Any District 3 resident interested in being considered is asked to contact Mayor Joe Bonner in writing, and council members are encouraged to make recommendations.

McMillan also reminded residents that the Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue Auxiliary is hosting a barbecue fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Fire Station 1 across from City Hall on Spanish Fort Boulevard. Proceeds from the $7-per-plate event will benefit Lt. Jason Hadley, injured Feb. 16 when he struck a deer while driving his motorcycle home from his shift at Thomas Hospital in Fairhope.

“Come hungry. Bring your friends. We need to take care of our own,” McMillan said.

Hadley is expected to return home by week’s end from Spain Rehabilitation Center on the campus of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he has been receiving physical and occupational therapy for the past week.

“(Hadley) has incurred a lot of expenses, as you can imagine,” McMillan said.

In other business, the council:

• Introduced a resolution authorizing the city to contract with Spanish Fort High School’s new football coach and athletic director, William Mark Freeman, for athletic consulting services in the annual amount of $15,000. In essence, the SFHS coach acts as a liaison between the city and the Spanish Fort Sports Association.
• Introduced a resolution authorizing the city to enter into a contract for the continued provision of summer athletic camps. The camps provide supplemental training for all Spanish Fort students who are at least in the fourth grade and are interested in any of the sports offered.

The next regular meeting of the council will begin with a 5 p.m. work session at the Gathering Place in the Prodisee Center March 21, followed immediately by the regular meeting at 6 p.m.