DAPHNE, Ala.—Daphne went on record at Monday’s City Council meeting, finally identifying an anonymous company planning to move operations here.

Plus Diagnostics—a New Jersey-based medical billing company—had narrowed its destination choices to three locations: Daphne and two Florida cities.

The company had delayed identifying itself until it received a proposed incentive package from the city, which pledged $10,000 in sales-tax abatements over a two-year period.

Plus Diagnostics had to adhere to New Jersey state law, which requires a company—planning to move its operations—to announce its departure 60 days before leaving. This would allow its employees sufficient time to find a new job.

The medical financial center—with a projected annual revenue of $20 million—will hire all employees locally with starting pay at $15 an hour with medical benefits or $17 an hour without benefits.

“From my understanding, they’ll hire all of their people here,” Mayor Fred Small said. “That’s 15 to 20 people here that can get jobs.”

The billing center expects its employment numbers to double over the first two years.

In other business:

Councilman Greg Burnam cast the lone dissenting vote.

“Since I came to work here, I’ve said ‘that’s a dangerous tree,’” Public Works horticulturist Marshall Parsons said.

Parsons spearheaded a scientific study on the tree’s condition and vulnerability.

The study found that the tree was a danger to residents, especially small children who may crawl inside it and find an animal or insect lurking, Parson said.

The matter was raised when Small asked the council for guidance regarding the Church of His Presence’s continued use of the center.

The church has rented out the center each Sunday for the past three years and plans to continue holding its services there.

“There’s a billboard on the causeway that says ‘Church services at Daphne Civic Center,’” Councilman August Palumbo said. “It’s a permanent home. It’s keeping other groups from using the center.”

“We don’t have to reserve it to them,” Burnam said. “Why don’t we just say no?”

Small said that the policy is “first-come, first-serve,” and the church has always paid its deposits and rental fees.

City Clerk David Cohen remined the council that a moratorium will only stop the group from reserving the center in the future and will not affect currently reserved dates.

“They do not plan to make that their permanent home,” resident Willie Robison—who said he’s gleaned such sentiment from church members—said. “They are good, civic-minded citizens.

“They do not plan to homestead in the civic center. They do look out for the city of Daphne; they are not poachers.”

The cost of 15 people to attend is $10,000. The club has approached the Baldwin County Commission and local municipalities to request funds.

“We’re asking the city for funding,” the representative said. “If we can’t get the funds, it’s a no-go.”

Of 12 girls on the court, five are from Daphne schools.