DAPHNE — Ownership of property has been an ongoing concern for Daphne Utilities.

When the utility wanted to enter into a contract with Verizon Wireless for use of the water tower behind City Hall, it found that the property actually belonged to the city, officials said.

That issue has since been resolved and the utility has control of the property on which the tower is situated.

However, Daphne Utilities is now doing a title search to ensure all their facilities are on property they own, Rob McElroy, the utility’s general manager, said, at the Utilities Board meeting Wednesday.

In the search, the utility discovered it owns the property on which Bay Rivers Art Guild is situated, McElroy said.

Around 1953, the property was empty and control of the land was transferred to Daphne Utilities, according to McElroy.

The building that houses the Bay Rivers Art Guild — which once was the city jail — did not get built until 1954, officials said.

Currently the city maintains the building and the property it sits on, according to Robert Segalla, board chairman, said.

Board members questioned the possibility of adverse possession because the city maintains the property as if it had ownership.

McElroy said he hopes to find a creative way to give the property to the city.

“Possibly with a swap of property if we find that some of our facilities are on city property,” McElroy said.

In other business:

•The utility is looking into debt consolidation “to do what this utility is going to have to do in the next 10 to 15 years,” Segalla said.

Councilman Ron Scott suggested budgeting in debt reduction.

•The utility wants to develop plans so it can be the default provider of services to new developments within the community.

•The utility is researching ways to advertise within the Daphne High School football stadium.