The Columbus City Council Tuesday is expected to reject all bids for a $2.2 million bridge restoration project and re-advertise for new bids.
Sealed bids for the restoration of the old bridge spanning the Tennessee-Tombigbee River, near the Columbus Riverwalk, were opened Feb. 27, but the bids — including a low bid of $2.5 million from Starkville’s Malouf Construction, LLC and a $3 million bid from Phillips Contracting, of Columbus — exceeded the project’s budget.
The project, whereby the bridge eventually will be turned into a pedestrian walkway, is being partially funded by the city of Columbus, Lowndes County, and the Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau, each entity having committed $133,000. The remainder of the project is funded by a Mississippi Department of Transportation grant.
During the council meeting, Chief Operations Officer David Armstrong also will discuss upcoming city board appointments.
Bruce Hanson, whose five-year appointment to the Columbus Municipal School District board expired March 2, earlier withdrew his application for re-appointment. The council will consider four applicants for the position — Jason Spears, James E. Samuel Sr., Clifford Reynolds and Julie Jordan — and can make the appointment March 20.
The council also will consider a vacancy on the Columbus Planning Commission.
Board Chairman Phillip Long, who no longer resides in the city, had applied to be reappointed to the three-year term, which expired Feb. 1, but a new policy adopted by the council stipulates appointees to any city boards, except municipal school board appointees, must live in city limits.
Additionally, City Engineer Kevin Stafford is seeking reappointment to the Board of Adjustment and Appeals of Development Codes. His term expires April 6 and an appointment can be made April 3. Stafford currently is the only applicant seeking the one-year term.
The council also is expected to discuss a request to install a four-way stop sign at the intersection of Sixth Avenue North and Ninth Street North and an ordinance regulating grading, culvert installation and permitting requirements.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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