Flowery Branch City Council voted unanimously Thursday night to contract with the Hall County Elections Office to conduct its 2013 municipal elections.

City Clerk Marja Burney said the city was offered a menu of services the county election board can manage.

“They would provide the poll workers,” said Burney, who added that it will be necessary she be present during the elections.

In other council business, Pond and Co.’s Jeremy Frydrych, a project manager and city engineer, presented a culvert replacement study.

Flowery Branch has a number of substandard culverts within city limits, according to Frydrych. Using 100-year flood parameters, which are standard for municipalities in Georgia, said Frydrich, there are at least five culverts that need replacement.

The 100-year flood scenario means that in any given year there is a 1 percent chance of flooding.

“We obviously can’t afford to do them all at one time,” said council member Tara Richards.

Frydrych said there are numerous choices about timing and ways that the culverts can be remediated or replaced.

“I think the ponding effect at Phil Niekro (Boulevard) is the most troublesome,” said Bill Andrew, city manager.

There is $412,000 earmarked in the city’s capital improvement plan for 2013. Andrew said that perhaps the culvert project could be connected with an upcoming project slated for Lights Ferry Road to capitalize on available funding.

City administration plans to continue discussions on the preferred alternative for replacing, or fortifying, the culverts on Cantrell, Spring and East Main streets as well as Spout Springs Road/Phil Niekro Boulevard and Mulberry Street.