SILVERHILL — The Silverhill Town Council continued to make progress in getting back up to steam with two fully functional operating wells, securing financing for the town’s back-up well at Monday night’s meeting.
The town council, now back up to full steam itself following the swearing in of council member Jared Lyles at Monday’s meeting, voted to secure a 60-month, $55,000 loan with Citizens’ Bank to provide additional funding for the well.
The council voted at its April 16 meeting to award the bid contract to replace the well, which has been out of commission since October 2005, to Layne-Central, the company initially contracted to inspect the well at a cost of $298,843.
While the town has obtained an ADECA $300,000 grant to pay for the new well, with the addition of engineering fees and fees owed to the South Alabama Regional Planning Commission, who is coordinating the grant application proecess for the town, the town will have to borrow about $55,000 to complete the project.
Bill Van Pelt of Layne-Central told council members at Monday’s meeting that they will not be charged until the project is completed, which is estimated at about 180 days or approximately six months.
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, who was hired by the council to inspect the well pump after sand was found in the well, came before the council Oct. 17 saying that upon inspection, the well needed to be replaced. The town has been operating with just one well since with a promise from Robertsdale to provide additional water if needed.
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.
Council members decided, in order to allow for future growth, the new well should have a 400-gallon-per-minute capacity.
In addition to financing, the council had the option of rebidding the contract and either go back to a 200-gallon capacity well, or eliminate some unnessary equipment and rebid the project.
Van Pelt told council members at Mondays meeting costs of many materials used for the project were scheduled to increase by May 1 so there was no guarantee rebidding the contract would result in a lower price.
When asked Monday about available funds, Mayor Tim Wilson said the town does have about $35,000, but said he thought the town would need that money for possible repairs on the other well.
“As part of our agreement, once they have the other well operational, they are going to go in and inspect the current well,” Wilson said. “I have a feeling we are going to need that money for those repairs.”
In other business, the council voted to advertise changes in the town’s building permit inspection fees and valuation process.
When adopted, Ordinance No. 371 will amend Ordinance No. 363 originally adopted Aug. 5, 1996 and last amended June 20, 2005.
Among the changes to the ordinance include:
— Increases permit fees for town and row homes from $60 per square foot to $66 per square foot and from $25 to $40 per square foot on garages, porches, decks, unheated areas, anything under roof, etc.
— Creates permit fees for custom homes at $90 per square foot and $25 per square foot on garages, porches, decks, unheated areas, anything under roof, etc.
— Creates a separate permit fee for commercial buildings at $8 per $1,000.
— Increases demolition permit fees from $75 to $100 for residential and from $150 to $200 for commercial.
— Increases mobile home permit fees from $35 to $50 for both mobile home setup and electrical permits.
— Creates commercial (job site trailer) fee of $75.
— Increases residential and commercial structure relocation fees from $50 to $100 to move a structure out of town limits.
— Restructures permit fees for new residential and remodeling construction to $50 for the first $1,000, plus $10 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof up to and including $50,000; $540 for the first $50,000, plus $8 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof, up to and including $100,000; $940 for the first $100,000, plus $6 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof up to and including $500,000; $3,340 for the first $500,000, plus $4 for each additional $1,000 or fraction thereof over $500,000.
— Adds a temporary mobile structure use fee (commercial use only) of $250 for a six-month period, plus an additional $250 for any approved six-month renewal thereafter for a mobile or manufactured structure for a temporary commercial use.
— Adds a $50 fee for a six-month period, plus an additional $50 for any approved six-month renewal thereafter for a mobile or manufactured structure used as a temporary construction field office.
— Increases the re-inspection fee from $40 to $50, plus an additional $75 for a second re-inspection and $100 for a third or subsequent re-inspection.
— Adds section stating that “it shall be unlawful for the person who secured the original permit to immediately remit to the Town Clerk an amount equal to the additional fees for permits and inspections incurred by the additional installations or alterations.”
— Creates double permit and inspection fees when work for which a permit is required is commenced prior to the obtaining of a permit, or when a building or improvement is occupied prior to the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy by the Building Inspection Department of $100, plus a double permit fee. the payment shall be no less than $150.
According to law, the ordinance changes must be advertised for 60 days before the council can set a public hearing for approval of the ordinance.
In other business, the town council:
— Tabled action on adopting a new personnel policy.
— Tabled action on purchase of new Christmas decorations.
— Approved pay of inmates provided for work release by the county of $3 per inmate up to two inmates.
— Voted to renew its contract with Blue Cross/Blue Shield at a cost increase from $277 to $295 for single coverage, and from $712 to $759 for family coverage. The town pays the entire cost for single coverage for employees, who pay the difference for family coverage. Cost for employees for family coverage will increase $7 per week.
— Voted to contract with the City of Fairhope at a cost of $35 per day per inmate for the use of the city’s jail.
— Heard from Pam Schaar with the Central Baldwin Chamber of Commerce. Schaar said the Chamber will be soliciting advertisement for the Chamber’s annual magazine in June and July for publication in September or October.
— Met in executive session following conclusion of regular business to discuss the name and character of an individual.
