ROBERTSDALE, Alabama — The city of Robertsdale took the next steps toward upgrades to Honeybee Park and its Public Works Facility during its meeting on Monday, Aug. 7.

The city council unanimously approved final plans for the park improvements and secured approval on contracts for Honeybee Park and the Public Works Facility with architects Adams & Stewart at the Monday night council meeting.

The city hosted a series of meetings in September and October 2016 to solicit public input for long-range plans to make improvements to Honeybee Park in preparation for the city’s centennial in 2021.

Plans call for the addition of parking, restructuring of sidewalks and landscaping of the park, along with the addition of central features, such as a pavilion and playground area.

One of the main features will be a 500-seat amphitheater which will be placed in the current location of the city’s utilities barn with plans to move the barn to property the city owns north of the Robertsdale Police Station on East Chicago Street.

In other business, the council voted to proceed with corrections to the L&N Property which was deeded to the city in the early 1990s.

According to information provided to the council, the city of Foley purchased property in 1984 held by the L&N Railroad, where at one time trains ran from that city through Summerdale, Robertsdale and Loxley.

In 1993, a 100-foot strip through Robertsdale was given to the city of Robertsdale from Foley, but some parcels of the property were never deeded to Foley through their purchase.

“We have been in communication with Foley and now they feel the out parcels should have been given to us with their donation in 1993,” Murphy said.

Murphy said the Robertsdale’s legal representative, Ken Raines, will send a “Resolution of Understanding” in clarifying their position and if the city is successful in securing their approval, Quick Claim Deeds on the property will be executed for the city.

The council voted unanimously Aug. 7 to proceed with the corrections.

In other business Aug. 7, the council:

• Changed the meeting date for the first Monday in September to Tuesday, Sept. 5 because of the Labor Day holiday. The council also voted to move its work session from 5 p.m. to 4:30 for a budget meeting in preparation for the start of the new fiscal year in October.

• Approved the purchase of advertising from Gulf Coast Media in the annual Baldwin County Fair tabloid.

• Approved the use of the city’s digital billboard for the Baldwin County United Day of Thanks Nov. 21.

• Approved the resurfacing of Rochelle Loop at an estimated cost of $49,000.

• Approved a reciprocal agreement to exchange information with Baldwin County.

• Approved 2017 budget adjustments.