The Fairhope City Council on Nov. 10 approved two measures to clear sediment from Fly Creek and share the cost with a private partner.

Richard Johnson, the city engineer, told the council the city received six competitive bids and recommended awarding the maintenance-dredging contract to M and N of Alabama for a not-to-exceed total of $717,774. Johnson said the work includes the main channel dredge and an optional separate line item for the upper channel, which the city would bear alone if performed.

The council also authorized the mayor to enter a memorandum of understanding with the Fairhope Yacht Club to formalize roles and cost sharing. Under the MOU the Yacht Club will contribute toward the shared costs and, at Johnson’s request, the club may amortize its contribution in three installments: one-third at substantial completion (after post-dredge survey confirms required depths), one-third at six months, and the final third at 12 months.

Johnson said the city last dredged the main channel in 2019 and that storms and upstream riverine deposition have contributed to renewed sedimentation. He said the city will use the permit allowance to maximize depth to approximately 10 feet (the permited depth is 8 feet; the permit allows up to 2 feet beyond that). He also described pursuing a GOMESA grant to extend protective jetties and lengthen the interval between dredges.

Council members pressed on operational details, including how dredged material will be handled. Johnson said the permit allows dewatering and placement of material on the beach, not side-casting into the water, and cautioned the material can look dark during operations but weathers to ordinary sand within days.

The resolutions to award the bid and to authorize the MOU passed on voice/roll-call votes during the meeting. The council’s packet lists the bid ID as 26-010-2025PWI013 and names M and N of Alabama LLC as the recommended contractor.

Next steps: the city will execute the contract and finalize MOU terms with Fairhope Yacht Club; construction schedules and post-dredge surveys will determine the timing of Yacht Club reimbursements.