The City of Columbia will continue contracting its water department services with M.D. Electric.
The Columbia Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday night to enter into a four-year contract worth $1,703,930 with the Columbia-based company to provide water department services. M.D. Electric had the previous contract and has handled the city’s water operations for several years.
Last month, the Board approved advertising for bids and received only one bid from Michael McDaniel and M.D. Electric. City Attorney Lawrence Hahn opened the bid for the Board at the beginning of its meeting at City Hall. According to Mayor Justin McKenzie, only M.D. Electric was the only company that picked up a request for proposal, showed up for the site visit and submitted a bid.
The bid was broken down by years with years one and two set at $421,765 and years three and four at $430,200 for a total of $1,703,930.
“That number includes virtually everything that has to be done with respect to maintaining the city’s water and sewer systems,” Hahn said. “It includes employees, all licensing, all testing, provides for the operator to have to provide the rubber-tire backhoe and 24-hour service. It also involves conducting repairs. It is all-inclusive.”
After Hahn read the bids, Ward 2 Alderman Jason Stringer made a motion that was seconded by Ward 4 Alderman Mike Smith. The measure passed on a 4-1 vote with Stringer, Smith, Ward 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans and Alderman-at-Large Edward Hough voting for the measure and Ward 1 Alderman Wendell Hammond voting against it.
The Board also voted to purchase a Bobcat excavator for use by the city’s street, cemeteries and parks department.
“This would be the most versatile tool in the city’s arsenal,” Stringer said before the unanimous vote.
The Board then approved an estimate of $9,525 to Gulf Coast Underground for work necessary to line the manhole on Broad Street near the Marion County Courthouse that has collapsed. The cost escalated from initial estimates due to structural damage. Work will be done at night and may only take one night. The Board approved the repair unanimously.
“Once it is repaired, we’ll have to fix the street around it,” McKenzie said.
Board members also approved replacing speed bumps on Mississippi Avenue to keep traffic slowed near the East Columbia Apartments.
Other items discussed by the Board included the property at 933 West Ave. The home has been vacant and is owned by an out-of-state bank. The rear section of the home is collapsing and neighbors have complained about dangers to children walking to nearby Columbia Primary School and Jefferson Middle School. Evans told the Board that something needed to be done. Hahn will contact the attorneys for the corporate owners and inform them that structure will be torn down.
“I’ll inform them that the Board has declared the building dilapidated and voted to demolish it,” Hahn said.
City officials will give the owners until Oct. 3 to repair or tear down the structure before taking action and demolishing it.
The Board also narrowly approved a new vacation policy for employees.
Employees with one to two years of service will receive 40 hours per year, two to 10 years, 80 hours and more than 10 years, 120 hours. Vacation time will be capped at 120 hours.
Hough, Smith and Stringer voted for the measure, while Evans and Hammond opposed it for a 3-2 passage.
“I thought the system wasn’t broken, so I didn’t want to change it,” Evans said.
McKenzie closed the meeting by speaking about last Saturday’s cleanup in Friendship Park.
“I want to thank the Junior Auxiliary of Columbia and all of the other volunteers who turned out in the park,” he said. “On behalf of myself and the Board, we’re thankful for the time and effort that was put in.”
