SILVERHILL, Ala. — Officials in Silverhill hope to have two fully functioning water wells by the end of next week.

James Wilson, who was reporting on behalf of engineer Chad Jordan, said final preparations are being made now on the well at the Silverhill Ball Park behind Little Hall, which has been out of commission since October of 2005. The well should be ready for inspection by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management by next week and if it passes inspection, should be operational by the end of the week.

At its Dec. 17 meeting, the Silverhill Town Council rejected a contract request by Bill Van Pelt with Layne Central to extend the bid contract for the town’s well.

According to the bid contract, Layne Central had until Oct. 30 to complete the project. The Town Council voted at its Nov. 19 meeting to extend the contract 30 days from that point.

Van Pelt came before the council on Dec. 17 asking for a 117-day contract extension, presenting a report of activity on the project to the council.

Van Pelt said much of the delay in the project came from part fabrication, stemming from changing the well from 400-gallon to 600-gallon per day capacity.

But council members expressed concern about the lack of work done on the project, particularly from August to October.

“Essentially we’re talking about two months when no work was done,” said Council member Steve Brooks at the December meeting. “I really don’t think you’ve adequately explained to me why this project isn’t done, and now you’re asking us for more time which will mean we will be waiting nearly a year for a project which should have been completed in six months.”

The Silverhill Town Council voted in April to approve a bid contract to replace the town well, which has been out of commission since October of 2005. According to the bid contract, Layne Central had until Oct. 30 to complete the project, but the company is asking the council for a 90-day contract extension.

So far, the council has only paid Van Pelt for work completed on the project and, according to the contract, will pay for only work completed. Under law, if the contract is not completed in the time allowed, the town could petition for liquidated damages.

In October of 2005 the town council voted to declare a state of emergency after the well, located at the Silverhill Ball Park behind Little Hall, was shut down.

Van Pelt of Layne-Central was hired by the council to inspect the well pump after sand was found in the well.

Van Pelt came before the council at its Oct. 17, 2005 meeting, saying that upon inspection, the well needed to be replaced.

With the well out of commission, that leaves just one well, located behind the Silverhill Town Hall, providing water service for the town.

By law, the town has to operate at half capacity of 400 gallons per minute. Normally each well provides 200 gallons per minute, but without the services of one of the wells, that means the other well is now forced to pump at full capacity.

So far the town has been able to operate without having to ask for help from the city of Robertsdale, officials said.

In other business Monday night the council set Feb. 28-29 to hand out trees for Arbor Day at Town Hall.

The council was also asked to consider making a yearly Arbor Day tradition of planting a tree, possibly on March 1 this year.

Wilson said the town usually planted a tree at Silverhill School, but with a lot of new construction going on currently, he didn’t think there was any room left at the school.

“I’d hate to see us plant something over there and have it torn up,” he said, “but we would be happy to plant one at the park.”

A specific date and time will be determined at the council’s next meeting Feb. 4.

In other business, the council:

— Passed an ordinance to increase court fees from $30 to $50. Council member Jared Lyles, a local attorney, abstained from the vote.

— Authorized Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams to purchase a camera for the utilities department.

— Voted 3-2 to reject a request by the Autism and Asbergers Society to donate $500 to help defray costs for a free seminar Feb. 12 at the PZK Civic Center in Robertsdale. The seminar will include information on dealing with individuals who have Autism and Asbergers in a crisis situation and is open to all disaster first responders including Police Department and Fire Department officials. Council members Jared Lyles, John Ullrich and Shirley Stephens voted against the measure by council member Steve Brooks, asking if the town’s Fire Department could help with the cost. The measure will likely be put back on the agenda at the council’s Feb. 4 meeting.