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By J.R. TIDWELL / Editor

The Thorsby Council discussed bids to replace and install water meters and make other improvements to the system throughout the town during the group’s meeting on May 20.

Engineer Angela Henline presented a summary of proposed plans for the water meter improvements to the Council during the meeting.

The summary was divided into four contract parts: A, B, C and D.

The main items of focus were contracts A and B.

Contract A dealt with the materials for the proposed meter replacement, while Contract B was for the actual installation of the new meters.

Two companies submitted bids for Contract A; however, the bid made by Consolidated Pipes & Supply out of Mt. Meigs contained errors. As such, the company asked for their bid to be retracted.

That left Central Pipe Supply, Inc. out of Pearl, Mississippi.

Central Pipe Supply’s bid was for $228,859. Since this was over budget, Henline discussed options with the Council to bring the project within acceptable costs.

After much discussion, the Council unanimously selected an option to purchase fewer meters, 720 total, than the 856 marked as needed.

Each contract must still be a approved by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management before work can begin.

According to Henline, the possibility exists that money gained from selling old meters that are replaced may be put towards purchasing more meters at a later date.

The possibility also exists that some of the meters in the town can still be used or retrofitted for less than the cost of replacement to make up for the decrease in the number purchased.

Baird Contracting submitted the low bid for Contract B, the actual installation of the meters.

Henline presented the option to the Council to have city employees install the meters instead of going with a contractor, but discussion pointed out that overtime incurred by the employees would negate any benefits of paying the contractor, so going with Baird Construction was selected.

Morrow Water Technologies was the low bidder for Contract C, pump rehabilitation, while Double Diamond Construction was the low bidder for Contract D, treatment building rehabilitation. The low bids for both Contract C and Contract D were accepted as is.

In other business:

• The Council voted to accept the May 6 minutes.
• Naming a potential candidate for the county Board of Equalization was tabled until the next meeting.
• The Council voted to pay the bills and transfer the funds.