By Rupert Howell
Bids were rejected on an overlaying project for Main and Back Streets in Sardis and that town’s aldermen voted to re-advertise for bid proposals upon engineer Mike Faulkner’s recommendation.
Action was taken at a special meeting called Thursday morning along with hiring two police officers, and installing a dispatch console at Sardis Fire Department.
Mayor Billy Russell explained the engineer had recommended re-bid of the overlay project due to licensure issues with the apparent low bidder.
Heritage Builders was the apparent low-bidder with a price totaling approximately $175,000 for the project. Double S Paving was the only other bidder with a bid price of approximately $230,000.
The project, when approved, is expected to be paid through tourism tax dollars, a three percent tax on food and lodging in the City of Sardis. (The Panolian erroneously reported two percent in previous new stories.)
Aldermen approved hiring two police officers, one full time and one part time to fill vacancies recently created there at the recommendation of Police Chief Chris Martin.
Sardis Volunteer Fire secretary/treasurer Brad Clark got approval to move a radio dispatch console from the police department to the fire department. Alderman voted for the move 3-1 with alderman Bonnie Smith voting against the motion.
Prior to the vote Clark said he had talked with “a couple of the aldermen” about the recommendation.
Smith questioned the fireman asking him why he didn’t talk to “all the alderman,” about the request.
Aldermen Roy Scallorn, Jojo Still and Tommy Rayburn voted in favor of the motion and alderman Clarence “Boo Boo” Jones was not present at Thursday called meeting.
Clark explained that it currently took five steps with the current system to set off the emergency siren and only one fireman knew how to do it.
He said by moving the radio console to the fire department, it would only take two steps to set off the siren saving valuable time in case of emergency such as an oncoming tornado. Clark also noted the system could serve as backup dispatch in case the county-wide system currently used by Sardis, ever breaks down.
Current Volunteer Fire Chief Chuck Moore who usually addresses aldermen and seeks requests for the fire department has taken a leave of absence according to Mayor Billy Russell who said Mitchell Daughtery is serving as interim chief.
Russell also told aldermen that he would attempt to give an extra day’s notice of special meetings to make it easier for all to attend. The board’s regular monthly meeting for June will be held Tuesday, June 7 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.