City aldermen vote 2-1 to okay paving proposal

The 2005 paving project is moving forward after Clarendon Aldermen voted 2-1 to accept a $974,485 proposal from B&B Solvent last Tuesday.

City Administrator Sean Pate this week said a contract for the job will be presented to the aldermen for their final approval June 28. B&B, which is a division of Jordan Paving, has expressed to city officials that it will be ready to mobilize early next month.

“It’ll be a good thing for Clarendon,” Pate said.

Aldermen Janice Knorpp and Bobbie Kidd voted for the proposal last week. Alderman Michael Tibbets was absent, and Alderman Mark White was presiding as mayor pro-tem. Alderman Tommy Hill voted against the measure.

“What do you not like about this, Tommy?” Kidd asked.

“I don’t like the price,” Hill said.

“Nobody does,” Kidd replied; and Knorpp added, “If we don’t do this now, the next bid will be more.”

Mayor Pro-tem White said he appreciated the contractor working with the city.

B&B presented two proposals based on its $1.3 million low bid previously accepted by the city. Proposal #1 was priced at $974,485.15 and eliminated planned paving on Fourth and Seventh Streets east of Koogle Street; and Proposal #2 was priced at $905,870.15 and eliminated the work east of Koogle as well as eliminating parts of McLean and Third streets north of Fifth Street.

Aldermen said they preferred the first proposal because it tied the project together and was part of the overall plan to control waterflow. Kidd also pointed out that the city was already paying for the engineering work on McLean and Third streets whether it was part of the project or not.

The project as it stands now includes the following streets: Third Street from Collinson to McLean, Fourth Street from Collinson to McLean, Sixth Street from Cottage to Koogle, Seventh Street from the western city limit to Koogle, Eighth Street from Leroy to Bugbee Avenue, Leroy Street from Fifth to Eighth, Johns Street from Sixth to approximately one-half block past Eighth, Collinson Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth Street, McLean Street from Clarendon Avenue to Eighth, and Bond Street from Sixth to Eighth.

The city had $833,759 available from tax revenue notes and economic development money to pay for the project. The Clarendon Economic Development Corporation will contribute $100,000 to the project, and the balance will be paid for from the city’s improvement fund.