The amount of the contract is between $231,970 and $356,280, which will be paid from federal grant funds.
The contract includes $33,210 to $99,640 for brown field outreach, which will include a kickoff meeting in January, public education efforts and outreach to industrial site property owners. Up to nine sites will be subject to Phase I Environmental Site Assessment worth $11,500 to $32,000, while up to three sites will receive a phase II ESA at a cost of $122,500 to $125,000. An additional $64,760 to $99,640 is budgeted for cleanup and redevelopment planning.
The motion to approve the contract was made by Councilman Lance Grissett and seconded by Councilman Jimmy Davis. It was passed with little public discussion.
Also Thursday, the council approved an emergency expenditure of $18,050 for Griner Drilling Service to replace and repair an 8-inch turbine pump at the Bingham Street Well. The well has been offline for about three weeks, but is, according to several attached memos, “needed to ensure adequate service in the case of a large consumption on the system, such as a water main break or a structure fire.”
Funding for the project is available, and three quotes were obtained before the job was awarded. Griner not only submitted the low bid but also included a two-year warranty. Councilman Eddie Tucker made the motion to approve the contract, which Grissett seconded.
Also Thursday, the council:
• Presented the Top Gun Employee of the Month Award to Romy Stamps, an administrative assistant in the Public Works Department.
• Accepted the annual report from the Historic Preservation Commission.
• Approved a retail lounge liquor license for Dee’s Sports Bar and Grill on Fort Lashley Avenue.
• Authorized the demolition of a house on Grant Street, two houses on Pulliam Street, and two structures on North Street and Tenney Street.
• Tabled discussion of demolishing a deck behind the north side of the square, pending a petition for the alley way beneath it to be vacated.
• Approved Water and Sewer Department invoices 4-1, with Tucker dissenting.
• Set the January meeting dates for Jan. 11 and Jan. 25.
• Approved the employee handbook as submitted by a vote of 4-0, with Councilman Donnie Miller abstaining. The book, which will be given to all current employees and new employees as they come on board, has already been approved by the employee committee and the Civil Service Board.
• Heard Miller raise the idea of either requiring employees to get direct deposit or not paying them until their shift is over, to prevent them from going to the bank while on the clock. Tucker and council President Horace Patterson were opposed to this.
• Heard Davis say he was looking forward to several city projects in the coming year, including paving and park renovation, and said he saw the recent announcement of a new retail business in the old Food World building as a positive sign.
• Heard Grissett echo Davis’ sentiment about the Food World building, and also commended the Community Appearance Department for the Christmas decorations around town.
• Heard Grissett thank all the city’s “loyal, dependable employees” for their service.
• Heard Patterson and Tucker encourage people to volunteer as Census workers. Census jobs pay up to $13 per hour for up to 40 hours per week, plus 55 cents per mile for gas. There is a basic skills test required. Applicants will need one photo identification and one non-photo identification.
• Heard Miller encourage people to come out for the Christmas parade Saturday at 5:30 p.m. So far, 19 merchants plan to set up shop in the Christmas Village in the parking lot of the Greater Talladega Area Chamber of Commerce, and tickets are still available for the banquet with grand marshal Gene Stallings later that night.
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