Bids rescinded for city building upgrades, but will lead to savings
A technicality forced the rescinding of bids approved last month by the city of Clinton for renovation of city buildings, the City Council was informed during Monday night’s (Aug. 28) monthly meeting
At the July meeting, the council approved a contract for $215,000 for renovations at the police station.
It also awarded a contract for $309,000 for demolishing and rebuilding the training tower at Fire Station No. 1, and a $375,100 contract for construction of a drive-through bay at Fire Station No. 2.
Then there was a misunderstanding about the bonding requirements. When that misunderstanding was resolved, the projects had to be rebid. The original bids were approved again at the original amounts. However, the city saw some savings because of the reduced amount of the required bonds.
Other major action items concerned updating and amending the city’s code of municipal ordinances.
The council passed on first reading an ordinance to revise the city’s municipal code.
“This is something we have been working on for 10 to 12 years,” said City Manager Roger Houck. The ordinance makes administrative changes and updates the city code by eliminating some sections that are outdated.
The council also passed on first reading an ordinance that would make the city’s zoning regulations a separate document. This will make zoning regulations more manageable and easier to change and update.
Chris Phillips, the city’s finance director, said that at the end of July, the city had completed 8-percent of the fiscal year with revenues at 2.9-percent of the budgeted amount and expenditures at 7.5-percent of budget. At this point, he said, the budget was on track.
Phillips reported that for the fiscal year just completed, sales tax revenues were 10.1-percent more than the previous fiscal year.
Kelly Johnson, director of schools, informed the council that for the 10th year in a row, Clinton Schools had scored at the highest level for student growth. She also announced the formation of a sixth-grade rocket drone racing team. This team will learn how to build and operate drones and compete against other schools.
Houck announced that there had been a pre-bid meeting for contractors bidding on the splash pool at Jaycees Park. He said the bids would be opened Sept. 11.
There were two citizens who spoke to express grievances. John Tue recommended the ordinance that forbids residents to have hens be rescinded. He noted that in Knoxville, residents are allowed to have hens.
Houck referred him to the planning commission.
Jan Wilson complained that there were no Black people depicted on the banners recently put up on Market Street. She stated that there are Black-owned businesses in Clinton and other notable Blacks in Clinton besides the Clinton 12. She said that some people were pictured on the banners that she felt should not have been pictured. She also suggested more modern topics on the banners.
Houck asked her to present his office with a list of names and topics to be considered for the next round of banners.