DAPHNE, Ala. — City council members want equal sewers for everyone, but how much are they willing to pay? Monday’s debate focused on need and type of sewer versus budget restraints.

The city — which plans to apply for the Community Development Block Grant to help fund sewer construction on Baldwin County 64 — can receive a maximum grant allowance of $500,000, according to Janey Galbraith, grants writer. A gravity sewer system would cost approximately $1.8 million and the grinder-pump system would cost about $850,000, she said.

Sewer systems would replace the septic tanks used in the area, thus relieving the property owners of responsibility of waste disposal system and maintenance costs.

Gravity systems have a large central pull, whereas individual grinder pumps at each residence create the suction force, according to Councilman Bailey Yelding.

Yelding said he was concerned about how the council would fairly implement sewering in the area.

“If we are going to go grinder pumps and we have gravity sanitary sewer everywhere else … . That’s a predominantly black area (along Baldwin County 27) that can’t afford to replace grinder pumps.”

Grinder pumps — which the city would supply, initially — must be replaced every six to 10 years and cost between $5,000 and $10,000, City Clerk David Cohen said Tuesday.

“The 93 residents in the area would pay approximately $697,500 (to replace the pumps) and those people are low income.”

There’s no difference in utility costs associated with gravity and grinder pump systems; each is based on the amount of water used. Septic tank owners currently pay about $200 every eight to 10 years to have their system pumped, according to Cohen. The tank itself costs around $1,000 plus installation fees.

“If someone’s going to step up to the plate and agree to pay to replace those grinder pumps when they need it, fine. But if not, then I want the same service that we put all over Daphne,” Yelding said.

Councilman John Lake, who has served several terms, agreed.

“We talked about this 14 years ago and had 200 people in this room,” he said. “Everyone said, ‘We don’t want grinder pumps.’

“If the more affluent areas aren’t going to have it, I think we should stay with what we have for everybody. If it costs a little bit more, so be it.”

He also asked that the council meet with Daphne Utilities to discuss its help in funding the project.

“This is an infrastructure that the utility board will receive benefits from too,” he said.

Councilman Ron Scott looked further at the monetary aspect.

“If someone has some kind of a magic wand and can tell me where we’re going to get those funds …. I’m extremely sympathetic. It does seem to be an area that’s been overlooked,” he said.

Councilman August Palumbo also expressed concern for funding sources.

“We’re asking the future city council to come up with money we spent when we didn’t have it,” he said. “When they have to come up with that money, what’s the answer? Tax the people!”

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette on Monday requested clarity and a postponed vote, as suggested by Galbraith. Barnette requested specific dollar amounts for each sewer type, for exhausted efforts in funding sources and the amount already set aside in the sewer fund so the council would know the exact amount of money needed.

City leaders will vote on the issue at the May 5 meeting.

CITY HALL RENOVATION

Also Monday, the council voted to extend the City Hall construction contract for 29 days; Lake and Palumbo cast dissenting votes. The May 13 deadline is extended to June 11, as suggested by the architect and Mayor Fred Small.

Small reported that construction time had been affected by rain days, change orders and architectural issues, and recommended the 29 day extension — as opposed to the construction company’s request of 37 days.

Change orders include different approaches to the floor and stair structure, according to Kim Briley, financial director.

If the building isn’t finished by deadline, it will cost the contractor $800 per extra day, Small said. He added that completion of the new portion is four months behind, but no penalties come into play until the contract’s end.

Palumbo protested the extension.

“The extension just puts more money in the pockets of the contractor,” he said.

Lake agreed that the city should hold the construction company to its original deadline.

“We need to light a fire under him,” Lake said.

He added that his experience with construction has shown that a project’s timely completion often requires a contractor to pay overtime for workers’ extra hours. He said the cost is not considerable and aids in finishing work.