Council O.K.s Expenditures

The Monticello City Council approved the repair and replacement of a pump used to fill the reservoirs at the City of Monticello’s Water Treatment Plant for $9,480 and they also approved $8,000 to begin the process of looking into financial options to put in de-chlorination chambers for the sewer plant.

Waymon Cody, Water and Sewer Superintendent spoke to the council about the pump, stating that it was over 20 years old and it had begun leaking. He said that the housing would stay the same, but that the internal parts of the pump would need to be replaced according to an outside inspector. The pump is used to get water from Lowery Branch to the city’s reservoir.

Mr. Cody also told the board that he had been in contact with Rindt-McDuff Associates and asked the council for $8,000, which was unanimously approved, to have them look into the money side of the de-chlorination chambers that the city has to have to be in compliance on the state level. Mr. Cody brought this before the council in August 2014 stating that this upgrade had to be done per the state.

Mr. Cody has since presented that the city will go with ultraviolet light de-chlorination and the cost is just under $400,000. Mr. Cody said that time was running out as the deadline for these upgrades was six months ago, and the state had been very patient. Mr. Cody stated that the Rindt-McDuff Associates would help the city find ways to fund this project so that it didn’t all have to come out of the budget or SPLOST. Mr. Cody said that the company had done a lot for no money thus far, and he believed that in looking into options with them that is was possible to get funding through a USDA grant or a GEFA loan with low to no interest.

Mr. Cody said that this would at least be a beginning and enough to show the state that the city is proactive in staying in compliance.

The city council also voted to hire MAK Services, LLC to come in and do audit preparedness for the city. This company would be an outside entity that is familiar with the city’s bookkeeping as Peggy Billerman, City Manager and City Clerk will retire in December. Mrs. Billerman said that there was an excess of $925 a month budgeted for previous professional services and that it could be used for this service.

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The council also voted to pay $8,000 for a heat pump that will be put in downstairs in the city complex building. Monte Roper, Maintenance Supervisor stated that the work was put out to bid and the company with the low bid put in an air conditioning pump rather than a heat pump. Mr. Roper stated that the two units look identical, and the contractor had tried to repair the unit by adding heat strips that were not going to be economical. He told the council that the money would be for the heat pump part only.

Council woman Katherine Alexander asked if there were any repercussions to the company as they bid on the work within the specifications. There was some discussion as to legalities and the consensus was that those fees would be more than the $8,000 to fix it correctly. Mrs. Billerman stated that the money came out of her budget for the building.

Council members heard from Robert Jordan, Engineer and owner of Jordan Engineering who contracts with the city on the Towee Street project bids. Mr. Jordan present two bids, one from Northeast Concrete in Macon and the other from Russell Bennett Contracting in Monticello. He said that the bids came in at $61,699 and $57,050, respectively but since Mr. Bennett had withdrawn his bid after discussion of terms that may have been omitted from his bid.

Mr. Jordan recommended Northeast and told the council that they had a good representation and the proper paperwork and insurance. There was some discussion as to the 70-30 split as previously offered by the GDOT and the total monies would come in at about $43,800 from GDOT. There had been previous discussions about the city and county splitting the remaining costs and with more concrete numbers, the council felt as if it had a number to take to the Jasper County Board of Commissioners for approval.

Mr. Jordan also stated that he spoke with an AT&T representative as some lines would have to be relocated and that the city could do that work in house and save about $5,000.

Council members discussed the harvesting of timber on the approximately 65 acres owned by the city on Hwy. 83N to generate revenues as suggested during budget discussions. The council voted to bid out the harvesting and reseeding of the property.

The council also approved a proclamation for Red Ribbon Week to be held October 23-31. Brandon , a young Marine recruit was on hand to accept the proclamation.