DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council at its work session Monday discussed a proposed drainage reconstruction project on Captain O’Neal Drive that would also include laying sidewalks over the affected area.

A motion will be added to Monday’s council business meeting to appropriate $338,352 to cover the city’s project contribution.

The drainage system has been severely impacted by storm water runoff, city site containment inspector Ashley Campbell said. A significant rain event occurred on March 28-29 that caused a head wall to collapse due to an eroded slope.

Andrew James, representing Volkert and Associates, said residents have experienced storm water flowing into their garages and partial loss of driveways.

Driveway damage can leave residents most vulnerable as many utility lines are buried underneath driveways and their exposure could be dangerous.

Shortly after the rain event, the city applied for a Federal  Emergency Management Agency grant, which has since been approved. The project was broken down into phases, Campbell said, since FEMA will only pay for drainage repairs and not sidewalks.

“FEMA will cover mitigation improvements, but not maintenance issues,” Campbell said. “That’s why we broke it down into a base project.”

The breakdown is as follows:

<$119,000: from FEMA grant

<$222,708: general fund for drainage repairs

<$74,594: gas tax fund for road improvements

<$41,050: lodging tax fund for sidewalk construction.

The gas tax allocation can only be used for the paving portion of the project, according to city ordinance.

Councilman Derek Boulware said the proposal received a favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee.

“This project presents improvements to the drainage system as well as addressing safety concerns,” James said.

Councilman Ron Scott, who said he toured the area over the weekend, said it was “sad to see sandbags protecting this. In addition to the drainage, there really are safety concerns involved.”

“FEMA has approved the project,” Campbell said. “All of the permits are in place.”

Campbell requested the council suspend Robert’s Rules of Order at Monday’s meeting to consider the appropriation. Robert’s Rules of Order, the protocol used to govern Daphne’s city government, and that of other municipalities, requires ordinances to publicly be read twice before they are voted on, unless the rules are suspended.

“We are looking at loss of property,” Councilwoman Cathy Barnette said.

“I, too, was going to suggest a suspension of the rules.

“We’ve got a garage that’s close to being undermined. They’re all suffering.”

“This has been going on for a long time,” Council President August Palumbo said of the recurring drainage issues.

The council does not vote at its work sessions; the next business meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. Monday in the council chambers at City Hall.

In other business:

The overlay district’s boundaries will run from the traffic light at the Interstate 10 east and Jubilee Square intersection to Infirmary Eastern Shore, Barnette, also a planning commissioner, said.

The overlay was modeled after the Eastern Shore Park District, although differing land redevelopment restrictions were considered.