PEA RIDGE — Selecting the same engineering firm which constructed the city's sewer treatment plant, City Council members accepted the recommendation from Mayor Jackie Crabtree and water/wastewater superintendent Ken Hayes for McGoodwin, Williams and Yates to assist in the work needed to bring the city's facilities up to standard.
Hayes told the council members last month that the city had received warning from the state Health Department that work needed to be done to the plant.
On a separate matter, Hayes told the council he received statements of qualifications from four engineering firms for the necessary upgrade of the city's sewer treatment plant. He and the mayor said they believed McGoodwin, Williams and Yates, the firm which built the plant, were the best qualified to meet the city's need. Councilmen approved selecting the firm as the top choice.
The possible increase of city sewer rates was discussed but no action was taken.
In other action, the council accepted the low bid from Steve Standridge Insurance as the provider for property and fleet insurance for the city.
Bids were opened and reviewed the week prior to the City Council meeting by the mayor and City Recorder Sandy Button to assure whether they meet specifications. The sole bid provided the previous month did not meet specifications.
Standridge's bid was $24,275 compared to $31,374 bid by Insurance Marketplace.
With two councilmen absent, the mayor provided the needed third vote to create a quorum.
Voting in favor of the decision were council members Nadine Telgemeie, Jack Kelley and the mayor.
Crabtree thanked Insurance Marketplace, the previous insurance provider, for continuing to cover the city during the time between the lapse of the previous contract and the acceptance of the new bid.
The mayor and council members discussed a letter received from Candace Rowe, a county resident concerning her complaints about the city crossing her property with the new sewer line. Hayes said he believed the city had met all requirements of the agreement.
Kelley asked Hayes how he felt the transactions with Rowe had been handled. Hayes said he believed the city had been "very fair."
In other business, the council:
◊Approved the hazard mitigation plan required by FEMA; waived competitive bidding and approved the expenditure of $14,000 for a 2007 Dodge Nitro for a new police vehicle which will be offset by a $5,000 insurance payment; and
◊Agreed to retire the badge of police officer Ken Shiers and agreed to present the badge to Shiers' family.
Because of the absence of two councilmen, it was agreed to postpone the planned discussion of impact fees and fireworks until the next council meeting which is set for Tuesday, Sept. 15.
News, Pages 1 on 08/26/2009