Spanish Fort working on drainage projects

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SPANISH FORT – The city of Spanish Fort is working on new drainage improvement projects including the restoration of the Wakefield Canal at a cost of almost $400,000.

The City Council voted Monday, Dec. 6 to approve a contract with Grady Ralls and Sons. The company was the lowest of four bidders on the project with a submission of $395,016, according to city reports.

Mayor Mike McMillan said the city will pay for the project with a low-interest loan from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management. He said that under the agreement some of the loan will be forgiven by the state.

“This is a low percentage loan through them of which there is a good possibility of debt forgiveness for half of it,” McMillan said. “The other part of that is we’re not going to pay $395,000. We’ll pay the state $15,000 or $20,000 a year.”

He said city officials have been working for several years to start work on the project to clear the canal and improve drainage in the area.

“This project is so long overdue,” McMillan said. “I’m anxious to get this thing started.”

The council also approved engineering work to start two additional drainage projects.

The council voted to hire the engineering firm of Matthew Jones Engineering LLC to design and plan drainage projects at Denise Lane and Rita Avenue and on Caisson Trace.

“This is a series of drainage improvements that we’re able to take advantage of because of the American Rescue Act funding that’s been presented to us, so you’ll see these two and others coming forward,” McMillan said.

The city has received complaints about stormwater and drainage issues between Denise Avenue and Rita Lane, according to project documents. The plan calls the drainage system, including the flume, pipes and inlet, to be replaced with a below-ground storm pipe system.

On Caisson Trace, drainage problems have caused sink holes in the easement for the current stormwater system. The city will replace the pipes and inlets with a new system, according to project reports.

Matthew Jones Engineering will be paid about $27,000 for the Denise Lane and Rita Avenue project, David Conner, city attorney said. The engineering cost for drainage improvements on Caisson Trace are expected to be about $18,000.