DAPHNE, Ala.— A stream of Public Works employees, planning to form a union, addressed the City Council Monday in attempts to be recognized.

Larry Seals led a procession of employees who spoke during public participation.

“I feel like the Public Works Department has not gotten the recognition it deserves,” Seals said.

After five employees approached the microphone, expressing similar concerns and hopes to reach a compromise with city government, Council President John Lake asked that the group of 30 employees stand up in solidarity.

“This is the first time you’ve asked us to meet with you,” Councilman Bailey Yelding said. “We’ll try to work out the problem we have.”

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette echoed Yelding’s sentiments.

“I value Public Works very much,” she said. “I hope we can determine what those issues are. Hopefully, it’s not just about money because that’s going to be challenging.”

Councilman August Palumbo said that when the pay scale was instituted, he foresaw a conflict.

“When we set up two pay scales, we appointed certain departments over others,” Palumbo said.

A few years back, the Public Safety department—including police and fire safety employees—were given a raise and their pay scale was increased. At that time, the Public Works Department received no raise, according to City Clerk David Cohen.

The council plans to discuss the proposed employees’ union in a future work session.

In other business, Scott Davis of Continental Properties made a presentation to the council about a new residential development to be built at U.S. Highway 98 and Johnson Road.

The council was holding a public hearing to discuss rezoning the property from B-2, general business, to its previous designation, R-4, high density single family/multifamily residential district.

The proposed development—The Springs at Eastern Shore—will have 264 units and will be a two-story, pet friendly apartment complex.

The planned complex will have a gated entrance, a swimming pool, clubhouse and a ‘click café’ where residents can drink coffee and surf the Internet.

“We’re just looking to go back to what (the zone) was before,” developer Scott Hutchinson said.

Councilwoman Cathy Barnette took issue with the site’s distance from adequate fire coverage.

“This development is more than five miles away from Fire Station No. 2,” Barnette said.

The developers said they would consult the fire department to reach a satisfactory conclusion.

Davis said that once Continental Properties’ developments are built, they will continue to manage them.

“We build these properties with a quality that they will stand over time,” he said.

The council will decide on adopting the ordinance to rezone the property at its next council meeting, according to a city spokesperson.