DAPHNE, Ala.—The city of Daphne is landlocked in many directions without a lot of room to grow, except east.

Public Works director Richard Johnson approached the City Council during a work session Monday to discuss two possibilities regarding property currently owned by the Alabama Department of Transportation. The property in question is along Alabama Highway 181, near Spanish Fort’s Eastern Shore Centre.

Johnson said the city can either take over maintenance of the rights of way and allow ALDOT to keep control of the roadways, or annex the property into the city, which would increase the city’s revenue.

“Coming your way, there is a consideration for us to not only renew the cooperative maintenance agreement for U.S. Highway 98 as well as U.S. Highway 90, as well as picking up all of Alabama 181 from our northern city limits all the way to the southern city limits of Spanish Fort,” Johnson said.

Johnson and many members of the council seemed to favor the annexation proposal.

“I think it is a very good idea to annex. It will beautifully start to square up the shape of our city, which makes sense,” Johnson said.

Some members of the council, including council member August Palumbo, said the matter needed discussion.

The council agreed to place both options on an upcoming agenda.