Council accepts waterline bid, approves money for lot cleanups

GENTRY -- City council, on Sept. 8, accepted a bid for a waterline extension project which will be performed in cooperation with SWEPCO's Flint Creek Power Plant.

The council accepted the low base bid of Seven Valleys Construction Co. for $139,301 to extend a waterline from Arkansas Highway 12 to SWEPCO Road on property recently purchased to build a road, extending the current north-south portion of Jerald Shay Road to Arkansas Highway 12.

SWEPCO agreed to pay the cost for a 6-inch line to its construction yard storage area on SWEPCO Road at a price of $127,023. The city will pay an additional $12,278 to make the line an 8-inch line, better meeting the city's needs for future extensions. SWEPCO also agreed to pay for professional fees for the project.

The larger pipe size will make it possible for the city to, in the future, pursue another waterline extension to the west along Jerald Shay Road and also extend a new waterline to the city's sewer plant.

The only other bidder on the waterline project was Diamond C. Construction, at a price of $174,599.

In other business, the council approved funding for the cleanup of two properties -- one recently donated to the city and the other condemned by the city.

The council approved the expenditure of approximately $4,000, requiring the transfer of funds from the general fund to the lot cleanup line item in the budget, to demolish the old house and cleanup the lot at 105 N. Rust Avenue. The property was recently donated to the city. Current plans are to use the property for a pocket park and additional Main Street business parking.

Approval was given for the expenditure of approximately $6,500, plus fees for a title search, to demolish the fire-damaged house and clean up the lot at 510 W. Main. The city has followed its codified procedure for condemnation with no response from owners and intends to put a lien against the property to cover the city costs for abating the code violations.

Cleanup work on the two properties is expected to be under way soon.