Davis Builders was awarded the low-bid contract.
The project includes creation of a “30 foot by 30 foot concrete pad with holding pens to allow for the transfer of animals to the outside for exercise and to make cleaning easier. This will also increase the capacity of the shelter,” according to a memo from City Manager Brian Muenger to the council. It will also involve “construction of 20 four foot by seven foot indoor kennels. These will replace the current kennel system, in which pens are of varying size. This will have the benefit of allowing staff to easily replace broken gates without the need for special fabrication. The block of new kennels will be eight inch block and will allow the gates to be hung from them, so as not to come in contact with the floor and corrosive cleaning agents.” The project also includes “numerous other repairs.”
The low bid is slightly more than what was budgeted because it initially did not include the new indoor pens. However, when compared to the cost of having to specially fabricate new gates, this is ultimately cheaper.
The council did not actually discuss any of the details of the project during the meeting. It was approved in a single vote along with three other resolutions. These involve $13,800 contract with Griffin Excavating for improvements at Pope Hill Park; a contract with Carr, Riggs and Ingram to handle the city’s audit; and a contract with Waites Construction to demolish five condemned houses. Adequate progress was being made on condemned structures on Davis and Christian Streets, and they will be removed from the list.
After the completion of regular council business, the council, Muenger, Mayor Larry Barton and attorney Mike O’Brien spent about 45 minutes in executive session to discuss possible litigation. When they reconvened, Council President Horace Patterson instructed Muenger to respond as he would normally, but took no formal action.
Also Monday, the council:
• Discussed vacating a street at the request of Greater Ebenezer Baptist Church.
• Heard Muenger report that some 85 people had taken advantage of the July 1 “heat shelter” at the Spring Street Recreation Center. The council also adopted a policy to open the center any time the heat index gets to 105 degrees or higher and the center would not otherwise be open.
• Announced the council will touring the federal prison July 18.
• Recommended Gov. Robert Bentley appoint Huel Love III to the Civil Service Board.
• Announced Talladega Pattern and Aluminum would the next Spotlight Business. City officials will tour the business at 9 a.m. July 26.
• Heard Barton commend Patterson on his 38th anniversary as pastor of Mt. Canaan Baptist Church.
• Heard Barton commend the city for “one of the largest, if not the largest” Independence Day celebrations ever.
• Heard Barton announce Rob Grant would be attending the July 31 TOP Trails meeting, and encouraged the council to attend as well.
• Heard Councilman Jarvis Elston commend the parks and recreation staff members who came in to help with the heat shelter on their day off.
Contact Chris Norwood at cnorwood@dailyhome.com.
