PELL CITY – The council approved low bids for two final sewer projects during Thursday night’s special called meeting.

The two sewer projects are the last of six projects the city must complete before 2012 to meet mandatory work required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management.

In 2006, the city was cited by ADEM for major sewer overflows and was given until September 2012 to complete all work outlined in a 2006 consent order or face stiff fines.

Officials say during major rain events, rain water infiltrates the sewer system causing major sewer overflows throughout the city.

At Thursday night’s special called meeting, the council unanimously voted to accept the low bid submitted by Cosper Construction Inc., for the two sewer projects.

Cosper Construction was the low bidder in the amount of $1.4 for the Phase II work on the Fishing Creek Lift Station.

Cosper Construction was also the low bidder for the construction of the new Wolf Creek North Lift Station and Force Main. That project will cost the city $1.7 million.

“My recommendation is to go with the low bidder,” Byron Woods, an engineer with Municipal Consultants who is helping oversee sewer upgrades, told the mayor and council Thursday night.

Woods said the company is required to provide the city with a performance bond, and a manager will oversee the company’s work.

Councilman Donnie Guinn questioned why Cosper Construction’s bid was so much lower then other companies.

“I can see it being 10-percent cheaper, because it’s a local contractor,” Woods said.

The council approved two major sewer projects just before the Thanksgiving Holidays, which included $6.7 rehabilitation sewer line throughout the city. The council also approved last week a $900,000 sewer rehabilitation project in the Shadydale Mobile Home Park area.

In recent months the city secured an $18.3 million loan through the state’s revolving fund loan program, but $6.3 million were funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act or stimulus money, and the city will only have to pay back $12 million of the SRF loan.

Also Thursday, the council authorized the mayor to proceed with condemnation proceedings for five easements and one parcel if the owners do not agree to sell the easements at the appraised value.

Councilman Greg Gossett was the lone councilman to vote against authorizing the mayor to proceed with the condemnation of the properties.

“I understand we need these easements,” he said. “I have a problem condemning anybody’s property. I worked hard for the property I got.”

He also questioned the mayor on how long efforts were made to secure the property.

Mayor Bill Hereford said the city has tried to secure the easements since the council took office.

“We got them all except for these five,” Hereford said. “It’s an honest disagreement.”

At Thursday night’s meeting, the council also approved a contract with Gallet and Associates, which will perform construction material tests for various sewer projects throughout the city. The company’s cost cannot exceed $49,290.

“This is for all the projects going on within the city,” Woods said, adding that the tests provide quality assurance inspections for materials being used on various sewer projects.