New Foley City Council Takes Office

Foley elected officials were sworn into office for the new term on Monday, Nov. 3. New and returning members are, from left, Timothy "Tim" Lower, District 2; Roderick Burkle, District 3; Council President Wayne Trawick, District 1; Mayor Ralph Hellmich; Larry Engel, District 4: and Council President Pro Tempore Charles Ebert III, District 5. 

FOLEY – A new four-year term began Monday, Nov. 3 for Foley elected representatives and city administrators as officials were sworn into office.

During an organizational meeting before the regular council session and work meeting, Mayor Ralph Hellmich was sworn in for a second term. Council members taking office are Wayne Trawick, District 1, who will also continue as council president; Timothy “Tim” Lower, District 2; Roderick Burkle, District 3; Larry Engel, District 4; and Charles Ebert III, District 5, who will continue as council president pro tempore.

Hellmich thanked the new and returning council members for their service.

“I appreciate each and every one stepping up,” he said. “Public service is not easy. You're going to have a lot of different opinions coming to you from folks who like to see things differently or stay the same. So we thank you for giving your time. I want to thank your families, because it is a team effort to get this done, because you get a lot of calls at home, and you're going to spend a lot of time working with the city.”

City court officials, executive directors and directors were also sworn in for the new term. Hellmich said the administrators and other city employees are vital to Foley’s continued success.

“We have an outstanding staff at all the levels,” Hellmich said. “Our public safety, our chiefs are outstanding, our executive directors, which is now the second term that we've had. This is our first full term for executive directors, which is working out very well. And I just want to say thank you to our staff. We have an outstanding city staff and workers that make this all work and make us look good, and it's appreciated. We are known as the Forward City, and we're going to do everything we can to keep it that way.”

Baldwin County District Attorney Robert Wilters, a Baldwin County native who now lives in Foley, administered the oath of office to elected officials and staff members. 

“To all those who have worked with the city and have worked with the city all these years, thank you all for what y'all do,” Wilters said. “It's a good, safe place to live, and we appreciate that. We who live in Foley appreciate it.”

During the organizational meeting, the council also designated which members will serve on city boards and designated the depositories for city funds.