SPANISH FORT, Ala.—The City Council on Monday motioned to postpone a vote to authorize Mayor Joe Bonner to enter into an agreement with  Bellsouth Telecommunications Inc., doing business as AT&T Alabama, for Internet Protocol-enabled video services.

The service is similar to cable services, but it runs through a telephone line, according to City Attorney David Conner.

The council decided to postpone the vote so it could get more details from AT&T.

The city wants to know when the service will be available in Spanish Fort if the agreement is signed.

AT&T Alabama has told the city it is unsure of a timeline.

AT&T Alabama will pay the city 5 percent of its gross revenues from the service during the length of agreement, Conner said.

If approved, the agreement will be effective until Dec. 31, 2018.

Spanish Fort could also have its own public-access channel if the deal goes through.

The channel could be used to broadcast City Council meetings.

The IP-enabled video service runs two-way point-to-point services through the existing wireline network, according to city documents.

AT&T Alabama is upgrading its existing network, which will allow for IP-enabled broadcasts of data, video and voice services. 

City officials said they will try to obtain more information from AT&T Alabama before the Feb. 16 meeting.

In other city news,  the council unanimously voted to allow Bonner to enter agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Service—with the United States Department of Agriculture—for the correction of drainage problems from Hurricanes Gustav and Faye.

The city requested federal funding to alleviate future issues.

“It’s a correction and a safeguard,” Bonner said. Because of the damage from the hurricanes, water around the Spanish Fort Town Center and behind Spanish Fort United Methodist Church flows downstream into Daphne, causing erosion.

The city and the service came up with a plan to provide improvements with an estimated project cost of $60,266.66. The service funded 75 percent of the drainage project, or $45,200.

The city covered the other 25 percent, which totaled  $15,066.66, and must pay any amount that exceeds the $45,200 the service will pay.

The next City Council meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Feb. 16 at The Gathering Place, at the intersection of Highways 98 and 31, in the Prodisee Center.