The proposed stand-alone emergency department in Daphne is making headway, although it now faces opposition.

The project filed a certificate of need with the state March 17, with a 45-day discussion period following.

Ormand Thompson, an administrator at Thomas Hospital (which is a division of Infirmary Health), said South Baldwin Regional Medical Center filed opposition to the project.

“Right now, the opposition is the opposition,” Thompson said. “We’ve spoken with them, and they don’t necessarily oppose the project itself. They want to see a location finalized before they drop their opposition.”

Coordinators are eyeing a piece of property around the I-10/ 181 corridor, but nothing has been finalized yet.

The proposal holds a special place in Mayor Dane Haygood’s heart.

At a city council meeting, he told of a time when his daughter was in desperate need of emergency care.

“It was after 5 (p.m.) on a Friday, and all the urgent care centers had already closed,” Haygood said. “Having Thomas as close as it is has been an asset to us, but getting down there in a time-sensitive situation can seem to take forever.”

Thompson said he feels that the project has received enormous positive support from the community.

“Ideally, we would like to get the ball rolling and be fully operational by fall of 2016,” Thompson said. “This is only the third one of its kind in the state, and everyone is very excited.”

The hospital will have a contested case hearing July 16 to answer questions from South Baldwin and clear up any confusion about the proposal.

Thompson said the stand-alone department will be a joint-commission venture through Infirmary Health and hopes to start with 40 additional staff.

“This whole thing is a boost to the economy,” Thompsons said. “When you have companies looking to move to the area, they are looking at healthcare. That is very important.”

Community support has generally been positive for the project. Thompson said he’s even received support from emergency management services about ambulance routes to the area.

“We are all just very excited about the progress this has made,” Thompson said. “We’ve had very good support form the community. We are optimistic about getting approval from the state and just ready for the next step.”