The Walker County Commission approved Monday a bid in District 1 for a culvert replacement on Mill Creek Road.
The low bid for the culvert replacement, which was opened on July 20, was $141,200 from Gillespie Construction, beating out $258,020 from C.D. Roberts.
“I just want to make a clarification on the Mill Creek project. That is the largest type of that kind of project that District 1 has done. It is not the largest project we’ve done. I think the paper printed that was the largest project in District 1. That is the largest pipe project,” District 1 Commissioner Keith Davis said. The project is too extensive for the District 1 crew to complete, Davis added, leading to the project being bid out for labor.
County Engineer Mike Short said the Mill Creek culvert project would likely be completed by the first of the year and would be a two-week project based on weather days and other factors.
Bids for four other road projects opened on the same day were also approved Monday. Those were for resurfacing and striping Smith Lake Dam Road, Dogtown Road, Empire Road and Pineywoods-Sipsey Road. Wiregrass Construction won all those bids.
The low bids from Wiregrass were $1,165,703 for Smith Lake Dam Road,, $624,675 for Dogtown Road, $646,380 for Empire Road and $1,454,439 for Pineywoods-Sipsey Road.
District 2 Commissioner Jeff Burrough asked County Engineer Mike Short about a timeline for the Wiregrass projects.
“We will have to get in line,” Short said. “I hope a couple projects will complete prior to the end of October. They have not given me anything in writing. But obviously their plate is full with work, but some of these are smaller and be able to work those in.”
Chairman Steve Miller said most of the funding for these projects is coming from the American Rescue Plan Act.
“This really helps these guys, and they are really working hard to complete and add these projects so these roads become better and better in the county,” Miller said.
In other action from the meeting, the commission:
• Approved Xerox lease to Viking Business Solutions. The cost is $221.88 per month.
• Approved a budget amendment for the Walker County Sheriffs Office for accident funds received. $2,500 will have to be paid in addition to meet the cost of the repair of a vehicle. The amendment is for $20,425.97.
• Approved a safety coordinator resolution. It allows an official transfer to Glen Peek, assistant county engineer, to that position. Peek must attend the required meetings for safety position. County engineer Mike Short recommended Peek.
• Re-appointed Linda Bender to board of Tri-County Agency for Intellectual Disabilities.
• Approves negotiation of liquidation of property Involving an old church building owned by the county. The county has been leasing the property to a church for a number of years, but the property has fallen into disrepair. Short estimated approximately $30,000 for repair to the building. A single bid was made for the property by the current lessee at $14,000. Short recommended the sale of the property by the county. Commissioners voted to allow County Attorney Richard Fikes to prepare the contract, and for Short and Fikes to negotiate the terms of the contract.
