SILVERHILL, Ala. — The Silverhill Town Council rejected a contractor’s request to extend the bid contract for the town’s well which has been town for over two years.

Bill Van Pelt with Layne Central came before the town council at its regular meeting Monday to respond to questions regarding delays with the project.

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 Monday 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. “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.”

Concerns were expressed at the November meeting about problems that could occur if the project runs into the second quarter of 2008 with the town’s $300,000 ADECA grant obtained to pay for the project.

“I’m going to tell you one thing, if we lose this grant, it will not be the town of Silverhill paying for this,” Mayor Tim Wilson told Van Pelt. “You need to finish this project, then we’ll talk about what to do with your contract.”

Wilson asked Chad Jordan, project engineer, to find out what problems further delays could cause with the grant.

“We just need to get this project finished,” he said, “and someone needs to be here at every meeting to let us know what progress is being made until the project is finished.”

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.

“We’ve been very lucky,” Wilson said.

Also regarding the well on Monday, the council voted to approve payment for a geologist study that was done on the well at a cost of $7,000.

The council also approved a change order for the well project at a cost of $4,835.

In other business Monday night the council:

— Voted to renew its sign at the Robertsdale High School baseball field for two years at a cost of $250.

— Approved resolution No. 401 to change its office employee title.

— Tabled a measure on the Fairhope Falls District pending further information from the town’s attorney.

— Tabled a measure to renew termite spraying contract with International Pest Control to solicit bids from other companies.

— Voted to hire Jimmy Clemmons as a full-time officer for the police department by a vote of 4-2. Council member Steve Brooks and Mayor Tim Wilson voted against the measure.