SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Sewage concerns, and especially the city’s recent denial of a proposed moratorium on the installation and construction of new sewer mains within the city’s limits, dominated discussion during the public participation portion of Monday’s regular City Council meeting.

The moratorium, which would have halted all sewage projects for six months or until the council’s adoption of comprehensive design standards and oversight regulations, failed in a 5-1 vote July 20, with District 1 Councilman Dennis Dismuke casting the lone vote for approval.

Wakefield Drive resident Dwain Kinard took issue with the council’s premise that a choice in sewage services exists because residents are limited to those services provided by Baldwin County Sewer Services.

“The only good contract is one that’s balanced—good for both parties—and this one seems extraordinarily one-sided,” Kinard said, citing the lack of price protection or oversight. “I know your intent was honorable, but I’m not sure anybody knows what they’re getting into if they sign up with Baldwin County Sewer.

“I’m just asking them to go back and look at the moratorium and make it more balanced.”

Mayor Joe Bonner said he feels that at this moment investing in sewage services is the best path for the city. He also said Baldwin County Sewer is willing to offer services without making it mandatory for all residents to convert to the system, thereby providing a choice for residents who opt to keep their field lines.

Dismuke said the issue is not whether residents are for or against sewer services but rather the city’s responsibility to ensure the public health interests of those residents.

“For us to allow a company to come in here and install lines inside our right-of-ways without oversight, in my opinion, is completely ridiculous and irresponsible,” Dismuke said.

In rebuttal, District 5 Councilwoman Mary Brabner said it was her understanding that a meeting proposed following the moratorium’s failure to discuss a compromise between the city and Baldwin County Sewer has not yet taken place, rendering Monday’s argument moot.

“Every foot of pipe they install (in the interim) is a disservice,” Dismuke said.

“And every day you wait to have this meeting just delays things,” Brabner said, appealing to Dismuke to use his professional training as a plumber to help mediate the matter.

Dismuke said he has been offering the council his expertise on the subject since day one, but his insight was ignored when the vote took place.

“Why can’t we put the moratorium in place until we have the regulations and oversight in place. You owe it to these people to make it happen,” Dismuke said.

District 4 Councilman Tom Sawyer said while he is sympathetic to residents opposed to the addition of sewage services, his most vocal constituents are the ones requesting the services to avoid health-department violations over their field lines. And because permitting issues have slowed the work being done, Sawyer said he does not understand the need to halt what work is being done.

“I think this can be worked out as we go along,” Sawyer said.

Dismuke argued, however, that a moratorium “holds our feet to the fire” to address the problem.

“Isn’t it our responsibility to put the regulations in place to protect our residents?” he asked. “Now’s the time to take action.”

In other business the council:

Also:

“We’re trying to use the 60,000 voices we have here to make some noise in Washington,” McMillan said during the work session prior to the regular meeting. “We’re trying to use the strength of our numbers.”

The next regular meeting of the council will begin with a 5 p.m. work session in the conference room at City Hall on Aug. 17, followed immediately by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. at the Gathering Place in the Prodisee Center.