DAPHNE, Ala.—The City Council suspended the rules to vote on and approve an ordinance to appropriate funds to repair the Al Trione Sports Complex after a December storm.

The complex received an estimated $48,500 worth of damage, including damage to the roof of the building that houses restrooms and a concession stand, damaged bleachers and downed fences.

Daphne’s recreation director, David McKelroy, has received estimates for the roof repair and replacement of the bleachers. The cost estimate for the roof repair was $13,343 and a bid for 10 new sets of bleachers was $35,157. The bleachers will be assembled and installed by the parks department, according to McKelroy.

An insurance claim is pending for the damage sustained at the complex, but Mayor Fred Small asked the council to allow a loan from the general fund until the claim comes through so the work can be done as soon as possible.

“We need to move forward,” Small said. “With some of the winds yesterday some of the tin was coming up on the roof.”

Council President Cathy Barnette questioned where funding for the repairs would come from. She said a loan from the general fund had been approved for another purpose.

“That loan went towards one specific item,” Barnette said. “It was not supposed to be a catch-all.”

Any cost not covered by the insurance claim will be funded by the lodging tax proceeds and returned to the general fund when available.