SPANISH FORT, Ala.—After what appeared to be the striking of a compromise regarding bonding requirements, developers of a long-dormant subdivision drew harsh words from Spanish Fort Mayor Joe Bonner during the June 6 City Council meeting.

"We literally bent over backwards for these people," Bonner said following the meeting he adjourned abruptly when discussion turned to "finger pointing."

At issue is a request by Bentley Oaks LLC, the developer of the 70-lot Audubon subdivision, for the city to accept certain streets for maintenance even though it has hardly been touched since the project began in 2006.

Bentley Oaks, owned by the same three principals as the Mitchell Co. Inc., was asked to provide by June 1 an itemized list of recent repairs performed on the streets in questions and a two-year bond on those services. The documentation has not yet materialized.

Mitchell Co. Executive Vice President Chuck Stefan told the council Mitchell will "find a way" to vouch for the work performed prior to the most recent repairs. The Audubon developers are anxious to move forward because they have contracts on 14 lots if the street maintenance issue can be resolved.

Because Bonner delivered only a first reading of the item, the council could have opted to suspend the rules and consider the item immediately but opted instead to postpone consideration until June 20.

Meanwhile, Stefan pressed Bonner about not requiring a two-year bond if other companies have been held to only a one-year bond.

"That’s not going to get you down the road," said Bonner, visibly flabbergasted and noting he "does not appreciate having fingers pointed."

"I think the city has stepped up,…but you can’t write a rule for everything, and we’re not going to try," Bonner said.