SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Citing the difficulty of fundraising in a down economy, city leaders are considering footing two-thirds of the $30,000 Spanish Fort Water System Inc. needs to proceed with annual flow-testing and routine maintenance on fire hydrants.

At issue is the continuation of a joint undertaking between Spanish Fort Water and Spanish Fort Fire-Rescue to upgrade and document the city’s hydrants. Annual testing, while not required, could improve the city’s fire-insurance rating from a 5 to a 4 on the nine-point ISO scale, bringing it on par with Daphne.

Spanish Fort Water originally requested the city provide $10,000 toward the total cost of annual testing, with the company and fire department making up the difference, but Mayor Joe Bonner indicated during Monday’s city council work session that the fire department is not comfortable enough with fundraising totals to date to commit that level of funding.

Bonner proposed the council consider during its Dec. 20 meeting a resolution authorizing a one-time allocation of $20,000 from the general operating budget to be designated for professional services. The allocation, which would cover both the city’s and the fire department’s contribution, would only be for 2011 testing.

District 1 Councilman Dennis Dismuke asked Spanish Fort Water executives if in light of the public-private partnership they had considered naming a city council member to their board of directors.

Such a step would require rewriting the company’s bylaws, which can only be done during the company’s annual meeting. Company officials did remind council members any one of them is eligible to run for a board seat should one come open.

“Let us cross that bridge if we get into some repetition,” Bonner said.