City of Foley

When Foley’s Public Library reopens in a new building Tuesday, Aug. 4, the new center will not just have twice the space of its former home, but will offer more services and activities in its expanded facility. The new library will be about 40,000 square feet in size. The expanded center includes a sensory room, separate children’s and teens’ activity areas. The facility will feature a special area for young readers, the Children’s Story Grove.

Foley is under a tropical storm warning as the effects of Tropical Storm Bertha are expected to begin affecting the region Tuesday. The City of Foley is monitoring Tropical Storm Bertha as the system moves across the northern Gulf of Mexico. A tropical storm warning means that winds of at least 39 miles per hour are expected within 36 hours. The winds may be accompanied by storm surge, coastal flooding and river flooding.

The City of Foley has reduced the speed limit on Irwin Street to make the roadway accessible to state-approved low-speed vehicles while improving connections to nearby areas. The Foley City Council gave final approval to an ordinance lowering the speed limit on Irwin Street from 40 mph to 35 mph. Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the change allows low-speed vehicles to legally travel the roadway under Alabama law.

The Foley City Council will hold its regular work session and meeting Monday, July 20. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at Foley City Hall. Among the items on the agenda are: A public hearing to declare weeds and the accumulation of junk to be a public nuisance and ordering its abatement on West Fig Avenue. A public hearing to declare weeds, trash and stagnant water to be a public nuisance and ordering its abatement on West Palm Avenue.

The city of Foley will host its first Hurricane Preparedness Expo on Tuesday, July 14, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Foley Civic Center, 407 E. Laurel Ave. The free community event will bring together local businesses, emergency response agencies and city departments to help residents prepare before, during and after a storm.

Construction is underway on the final segment of a nearly four-mile sidewalk network along Alabama 59, marking another milestone in the City of Foley’s long-term commitment to improving connectivity, pedestrian safety and quality of life. The project will complete the remaining 1.25-mile gap between Azalea Avenue and Pride Drive near Foley High School.

Beginning immediately, access from Highway 59 to the private roadway located between Tom Thumb and Whataburger will be temporarily closed. The closure is necessary due to deteriorating pavement conditions. While the roadway is privately owned, the City has received multiple reports regarding the pavement’s condition and has taken steps to notify the property owner. As part of those efforts, the City has also begun the appropriate escalation process.

Foley City Council to meet Monday The Foley City Council will hold its regular work session and meeting Monday, July 6. The meeting will begin at 4 p.m. in the council chambers at Foley City Hall. Among the items on the agenda are: A public hearing to rezone property owned by Harold Motter from residential single family, R-1A, to local business, B-3. A public hearing to rezone property owned by Vulcan Inc. from light industrial, M1, to local business, B-3.

Foley continues to celebrate America’s 250th birthday with a variety of events around the city. The Graham Creek Nature Preserve is presenting Foley’s Flags of Freedom celebration. The event is a self-guided tour of American flags placed across the preserve. The preserve includes more than 600 acres of natural landscape with extensive walking trails, boardwalks and other features. As the July 4 holiday approaches, Foley has more than 250 additional flags flying on the streets of the city.

South Juniper Street will be closed near Iberville Square through Thursday, July 2 for the turn-lane project at the site. The closure is scheduled to continue through 2 p.m. Thursday to allow a contractor to continue working on the median South Juniper Street will be closed from 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. each day while the work continues. The project will include a southbound left-turn lane onto Beignet Drive.