SILVERHILL, Ala. — Officials in Silverhill hope that a project begun in October of 2005 can now be officially put to rest after approving payment for the replacement of the town’s well at the Silverhill Ball Park.

The item topped the agenda at a marathon session for the meeting which took nearly two hours and featured a packed house Monday night at Silverhill Town Hall.

The council agreed to grant final payment for Layne Central for the project, minus $6,000 or about 30 days in liquidated damages.

A bill for $66,919.37 was presented at the Council’s May 19 meeting, but was tabled by Council members. An ADECA grant for the project will pay part of the bill, said Mayor Tim Wilson. The exact amount of the payment to Layne Central was unknown at presstime.

At its Dec. 17, 2007 meeting, the 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 council voted in April to approve a bid contract to replace the town well, which has been out of commission since October of 2005.

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 and 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.

The town operated successfully with one well for over two years until the project was completed earlier this year.

In other business Monday, the council voted to build a privacy fence around the town’s highway barn after complaints from neighboring residents.

“It’s just an eyesore,” said neighboring resident Kristen Helton, “not only for us, but people parking for events like the Heritage Festival have to walk right by it.”

The council voted to build a six-foot privacy fence at a cost of $1,800 for materials, along with slats to place over an existing chain-link fence in front of the barn at a cost of $1,400.

The town’s Utilities Department will install the fence.

“Once we’re able to get started, it shouldn’t take but three or four days to install the fence,” said Superintendent of Utilities Steve Williams. “It’s just a matter of being able to get started and that could be a couple of months, I really don’t know at this point.”

The town council also voted Monday to waive rights to sell the town’s gas system to anyone else but Riviera Utilities, contingent on the company making an offer as stated in a letter of intent, presented at Monday’s council meeting.

According to the original contract between the town and Riviera Utilities adopted in 1962, the utility company retains right of first refusal on the purchase of the system.

The council should receive an official offer from the company at its next meeting July 21. Council member Stephen Brooks, an employee of Riviera Utilities, abstained from voting.

Also on Monday, the council:

— Voted to allow Chief Kim Wasdin to use the Little Hall Aug. 2 for a retirement party for State Trooper Terry Mund.

— Voted to purchase an ad in the Robertsdale High School football program at a cost of $225.

— Approved the use of Town Hall for a Chamber of Commerce Mayor’s Breakfast on Sept. 24 at 6:30 a.m.

— Approved Resolution 408 for payment of an absentee election manager for the Aug. 26 municipal elections.

— Approved Resolution 407 designating poll workers for the municipal election.

— Approved the sale of surplus items for the town’s Utilities Department.

— Authorized the use of Town Hall July 25 by Wasdin for use in training for dealing with registered sex offenders in the area.