Work begins on I-20/59 water, sewer lines

By By Fredie Carmichael / staff writer
May 19, 2004
Trucks are expected to begin moving dirt today the first step in construction of water and sewer lines at the new Interstate 20/59 industrial park, a job expected to last 265 days.
Work will begin more than a month after councilmen hired Kevin Coleman Construction of Wesson to build the $3.1 million project, which will be funded with a matching $1.5 million Economic Development Administration grant.
City officials discovered earlier this year that they were on the verge of losing the grant after a series of delays.
Engineering Associates originally made a error in bid documents to build water and sewer lines at the park leading to a two-month delay in the council hiring a construction company for that project.
Local economic development officials have said that the water and sewer lines and a new I-20/59 interchange are needed at the park to help attract business and industry.
The other delay associated with the park includes the location of its highway access and interstate interchange.
Federal highway officials requested last month the city complete an additional environmental study for the location before the site is confirmed. The amount of time that delay will cause is still uncertain.
East Mississippi Business Development Corp. Chairman Wallace Strickland said he is excited to see the work begin.
IN OTHER BUSINESS
The Meridian City Council took the following actions during its regular Tuesday meeting:
They unanimously approved the designation of U.S. 80 as Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway.
They voted 4-1 to purchase a new fire truck for about $400,000 from Pierce Manufacturing Inc.'s Pro-fire Equipment LLC. Ward 5 Councilman Bobby Smith voted against the purchase because the Pierce bid was about $22,000 more than the other bid. Councilmen originally deadlocked on the purchase last month when Council President Barbara Henson was out of town.
They hired Butch Lambert &Associates LLC for $50,000 to provide professional services associated with the city's garbage collection and its next contract. The city is expected to advertise for bids before Oct. 1. Smith and Ward 4 Councilman Jesse E. Palmer Sr. voted against the hire.