Rebidding a paving project, personnel moves and projects including new fire hydrants in several areas were all part of the discussion items at Tuesday’s Columbia Board of Aldermen meeting.
City Engineer Sean Burns spoke about the rebidding of a citywide paving project that was turned down last month by the Board. Burns and Mayor Justin McKenzie reevaluated the project and trimmed the scope of the work to allow for new bids. The city hopes to spend around $140,000 patching sections of roads damaged by water repairs and some that are deteriorating.
“We will have a Nov. 28 opening for the bids for the street repairs,” he told the Board. “This is a cut back version of what we did before. We have advertised for bids again. After the last meeting, the mayor and I rode looked at the streets we had set up before and narrowed down what we felt was the most needed at this point. In this bid package, I’ve got several alternate streets so that with these bids we could add additional streets depending on the cost.”
A pre-bid meeting will be held on Nov. 21, according to Burns.
“A lot of the information is the same as it was last time,” he said.
The Board also discussed several police items with Chief Mike Cooper and hired non-certified officer Jeremy Lee on a unanimous vote. Lee will be sent to the academy in January.
The Board also accepted the resignation of officer Seth Blackmon, who accepted a job with the Hattiesburg Police Department.
Ward 3 Alderwoman Anna Evans asked Cooper for help with reckless drivers near Jefferson Middle School.
“Chief, as you know, before the school year started I asked if you could come behind Jefferson to try to watch for vehicles driving extremely fast,” she said. “I really wish you could have someone out there every day at 3 p.m. The biggest rush time is probably up until 3:15 p.m. or 3:20. I know you have somebody sitting by the primary school; I’d love to see someone watching the people coming off of Dukes Ave. I think that once the presence is there then they’ll begin to slow down. The school is a priority.”
Cooper said officers had been patrolling the area, but will attempt to be more visible.
Fire Chief Jeff McKenzie then presented his report, which included 93 calls for October and addressed the Board.
“We have been working with the Water Department on some areas and Michael (McDaniel) and I and the mayor have discussed some of the areas. All of these could impact safety and the fire rating. Later in the meeting, the city approved a contract with T.L. Wallace Construction for installation and work for several needed hydrants. The bid, which was unanimously accepted, was for $32,120.
Chief McKenzie also spoke about other fire department needs.
“Our cascade system (used for filling air tanks for firefighters) is about 27 years old,” he told the Board.
“I know it was here when I got here and I’ve been here a while,” he said. “It really needed to be replaced. We don’t have any backup. We are hoping to accomplish by getting a grant. The cost of a new one runs around $35,000. This is a stationary system.”
The Board also approved the purchase supplies for the water department (more than 60 items) at a cost of $27,932.58 from Consolidated Pipe, the lowest bidder. The product types were specified in the bid proposals. Two other bids were received, one for $30,651.66 from Core & Main and one for $32,207.31 from Southern Waterworks Supply.
The Board rejected bids for a metal building at the water plant and will have it rebid with modifications. The Board approved the purchase of a new Dodge ¾ ton pickup truck for the state contract price of $34,815 from Landers Dodge in Southaven (which has the state contract). The truck will be purchased with money from the Water Department budget.
In other items, the Board approved sending city dispatcher and TAC Officer Steven Palmer to a supervisors training class in Magee at a cost of $150 and sending Sgt. Nate Cook to the STORM (police) conference Nov. 14-16 in Vicksburg. The only cost to the city will be Cook’s lodging at $81 per night. He will take a city issued patrol car to the conference.
The Board also hired Theron Magee, a previous city employee, to work in the cemetery department and accepted a bid of $7,500 from Rowell Roofing for repairs at the Columbia Expo Center.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Columbia Board of Aldermen is set for 4 p.m. on Nov. 21 at City Hall.
