Spanish Fort will be a little cleaner after city council adopted a new ordinance that outlines what the city considers litter, prevention measures and penalties.

Ordinance 644-2023 was introduced during the Sept. 18 regular city council meeting. One of the main littering concerns, according to Spanish Fort Mayor Michal McMillian, is the city's recycling area located off Ember Lane.

"We have had a lot of issues at the recycling area without a doubt," McMillian said during the Sept. 18 city council meeting. "We have heard you; we have seen pictures, and we know all about it. It has just been hard for us to take action without this new ordinance put in place."

During the Oct. 2 meeting, the ordinance was read and a public hearing was held, but no residents spoke. The only concerns came from Councilwoman Mary Brabner.

"I noticed on section 13A it says that the stuff for collection should not be at the curb any sooner than 24 hours before your day of collection," Brabner said. "Well that is not going to work because if you do yard work or whatever on the weekend and your day is not until Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday, it is not going to sit somewhere else and then come to the street. You are going to bring it to the street when you clip the limbs or you bag your leaves. So 13A needs to be revised."

Councilman Lewis Smith said he bundles his branches and leaves them behind his fence until the night before pickup. Smith suggested that 13A be left as is and said it would help the city look better and help prevent debris from being stacked by the road for six days.

McMillian said he admires Smith and that he is an exception, but the mayor said he takes his yard debris to the curb as he cuts and collects and agreed the 24-hour stipulation is an issue.

The suggestion was made to change 13 A to state that debris could be left on the curb the Saturday before the resident's collection day. After some discussion, the council agreed to strike 13A altogether.

Some small wording changes were made throughout the ordinance during both the work and regular sessions. The rules were suspended to immediately vote on the ordinance, which was adopted unanimously.

Also during the meeting, council:

• Adopted ordinance 646-2023, which authorizes the mayor to execute a memorandum of understanding between Baldwin County Commission, Baldwin County Sheriff's Office, Baldwin County Public Schools and the city of Spanish Fort regarding funding for school resource officers;
• Approved resolution 1372-2023, which amends the personnel manual for the city of Spanish Fort to require 30 days' notice for employees resigning;
• Introduced ordinance 645-2023, which exempts certain "covered items" from the municipal sales and use tax during Alabama Severe Weather Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday Legislation, which is the last full weekend of February 2024. This item will be voted on Oct. 16; and
• Introduced resolution 1374-2023, which would authorize the mayor to execute a proposal with Sunset Contracting Inc. for asphalt repairs at Bunting Court, Spirit Park and Wimbret Way. The total for all work is $30,337. This item will be voted on Oct. 16.