ELBERTA, Ala. — The Elberta Town Council’s failure to award a contract to repair town roads Tuesday night met with dissatisfaction from the audience.

“I was upset that you’re tabling the award of the contract,” said a woman who lives on one of the affected streets. “We’re trying to get out of the road.”

The Council had three bids, one of which was eliminated because it did not comply with the bid specs. Those specs include seven projects that consist of repairing culverts and washed-out roads for a total cost of $136,113.

The Council then discussed the pros and cons of making a single award or dividing the projects between the two in hopes of expediting the repairs.

Elberta Public Works Director Tim Bragg explained that 75 percent of that could be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, with the remaining cost divided between the state and town.

“FEMA may or may not fund part of these projects,” he said. “But we need to get these done.”

But before the Council could vote on the issue, Town Attorney Ken Raines asked them to table it so he could revue it.

“I’ll get back with you in the morning and y’all can have a special meeting,” he told the Council.

The Council complied, which spurred the audience member’s complaint.

“I follow the law,” Mayor Marvin Williams said. “When Ken Raines says wait, I wait.”