DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne Downtown Redevelopment Authority discussed multiple ways to get the Olde Towne Daphne area the visibility it needs to become the kind of area the authority envisions it to become.

Olde Towne Daphne is the area along scenic U.S. Highway 98 from Bayfront Park south to W.J. Carroll School, and the authority has been making strides to improve the area through beautification.

The group — which is considering the best way to give Olde Towne Daphne a website — discussed its options with Marcus Neto, owner and operator of Big Fish, a Web design company, who has created websites for Bay Community Church and the Spanish Fort fire department.

During the meeting, Neto said he could customize a web site to display Olde Towne Daphne, but that proposed project’s budget has not been determined. Neto would charge by the hour for his work on the site. His fee is $75 per hour for a non-profit organization.

The authority plans to include photographs, links and information about area merchants, news about the area and to possibly include a map and job board.

Neto said he could do almost anything, but the website would be limited to whatever budget the organization decides to use.

“What I will use to build the website will allow almost anything,” Neto said. The new site can include blogs, news, photos, memberships and other tools. The software he plans to use costs $100 for a non-profit license, which he said the authority would most likely qualify for.

The city of Daphne is working on a new website design, so Councilwoman Cathy Barnette is investigating what options the authority has if its page were included on that website, as well as the cost difference.

In other news, Monday, the authority:

• Rejected preliminary designs for a plaque to be placed near the fountain and statue of Daphne in front of City Hall. The group had initially planned to place the plaque near the ground to not distract from the statue, but initial designs the Public Works Department received included a large pole that the plaque would be affixed to. The group asked for a redesign before proceeding with the plaque.
• Voted to take the advice of finance director Kim Briley to move the funds to a separate account specifically for the authority. The group currently has more than $30,000 and moving some of the funds will allow the organization easier access to the funds without requiring a purchase order.