DAPHNE, Ala. — The Daphne City Council unanimously passed a resolution to accept bids on roadwork for TimberCreek Boulevard.

Engineering work for the project was initially approved in November, along with several road projects, but when bid advertisements went out last week, TimberCreek was missing.

Mayor Fred Small     Small said he pulled TimberCreek from the bid advertisements because he felt the project could leave the city with higher financial obligations than anticipated. When engineering work on TimberCreek Boulevard was approved, the county’s involvement in the project and the cost estimate of the work was still pending. The ordinance approved at the most recent meeting appropriated $30,000 for the project. A prior estimate was $40,000.

Councilman August Palumbo said he was concerned about the omission since the project was pulled from advertisements at the last minute.

TimberCreek Boulevard is 18 years old and is heavily used as a shortcut to the Spanish Fort’s Eastern Shore Centre. As a result of its age and use, the road needs to be resurfaced and repaired; a road with similar traffic would typically last for 15 years, Councilman August Palumbo said.    

Joe Davis, a TimberCreek resident, read a letter to the council on behalf of the subdivision’s residents that said residents left a planning meeting in November, confident the road would be fixed soon, but they were disappointed in the project’s last-minute removal.

“The residents of TimberCreek respectfully ask the city council to correct this omission of this project,” he said prior to the vote.

Also Monday, the council voted 5-1, with one abstention, to overturn Small’s veto of an ordinance outlining who may sign checks and issue bonds for the city.

As the newspaper reported on baldwincountynow.com Friday just after City Hall issued the announcement, Small vetoed a Feb. 7 ordinance that repealed laws passed in 2005 and 1996. Small cannot vote during council meetings; he may only veto. The most recent ordinance requires the mayor, finance director, revenue officer and municipal-court magistrate to maintain surety bonds. The ordinance from 2005 also required the city-council president and city-council president pro tempore to maintain surety bonds; Small contended the individuals in these positions still should hold surety bonds.

Five favorable votes Monday night were necessary to overturn the mayor’s veto. Council President Cathy Barnette abstained and councilman Ron Scott voted against the vetoed ordinance.

“I guess my main problem that I have is that we are saying that a person can serve as council president or council pro tempore without being bonded,” Scott said.

Councilman John Lake said he voted in favor of the ordinance because he feels the ordinance will save the city money annually.

“I don’t think anyone is hoping that the mayor dies or quits,” he said. “However, I checked today to see what we paid. We pay over $1,750 that is not needed. We bicker and complain and talk about saving money. Here is a way we can save $3,500 because the council has never been asked to sign a check.”

In other news, the council:

• Unanimously voted to suspend the rules to waive the first reading on an ordinance to appropriate funds for repairs to be made at Al Trione Sports Complex. The ordinance was deemed immediately necessary so roof repairs can be made before a storm hits.
• The roof repair is expected to cost $13,343 and the repairs on bleachers are expected to cost $35,157. A recent storm caused the damage.
• Voted 7-0 to award a bid for an automated garbage truck and lifting mechanism to McNeilus Truck and Manufacturing. The city received two bids back and McNeilus had the lowest bid of $20,738.
• Voted 6-1 to apply for a Mobile Bay National Estuary Program stormwater management matching grant. If the grant is awarded to the city, Daphne leaders must appropriate up to $75,000 in funds or offer in-kind services to uphold the grant’s terms. If awarded, the funding will be used to aid stormwater management.
• Unanimously voted to apply for a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. If the $50,000 grant is awarded, the city will have to match the funds. The grant will be added to the next year’s fiscal budget and the funds will come out of lodging taxes. The grant will allow the city to hire an architect to design an amphitheater.
• Unanimously voted to apply for a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Coastal Assistance Program for invasive-species control. If the $48,000 grant is awarded, the city will be accountable for $14,200 of in-kind services.
• Unanimously voted to authorize the purchase of emergency-response equipment with funds received from the Deepwater Horizon-BP oil-spill grant. Funds will be used to purchase a tracked skid-steer loader, an open utility trailer, lights and radios for vehicles and will formulate a comprehensive emergency management plan and send four employees to a national hurricane conference.
• Unanimously adopted an ordinance requiring all municipal buildings to participate in recycling. The ordinance will be beneficial to the city when applying for grants. The ordinance will take effect March 1.
• Passed a resolution to allocate funds to send city clerk David Cohen and Councilman Derek Boulware to the National League of Cities to Washington D.C. The council approved travel costs of $175 per person. Councilman John Lake will also attend the conference but he did not ask for a pre-paid travel advance.
• Voted 6-0 with one abstention to declare property surplus. The property includes a 1993 Vermeer Chipper, a 1999 Ford TR-F series, a 1998 Ford Taurus and a 1990 GMC vehicle. The property will be disposed of.
• Issued a proclamation proclaiming Earth Day April 23 in Daphne.
• Approved a parade permit for the Arthritis Foundation on the Gulf Coast to hold its annual Jingle Bell Run on Dec. 3.
• The next council meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. March 7 at City Hall on Main Street.