The Columbus City Council on Tuesday will submit their final plans for street paving for the year. According to City Engineer Kevin Stafford, the council will discuss final paving for a few city-wide projects as well as projects for individual wards.
“The councilmen will submit their final lists for approval Tuesday night,” Stafford said. “Advertising for the projects will also be up for approval.”
Stafford said if the projects and advertising are approved, bids should be opened by Monday, August 20 and approved on Tuesday, August 21. The projects would begin in September and would be completed by the end of the year.
“Once the bids are accepted, there is a week or so period to get all of the paperwork in order with the contractors as far as bonds and insurance and then there is a 90-day completion contract once the projects begin,” Stafford said.
The ward projects will be paid for through remaining money from general obligation bonds.
The council will also discuss how to go forward with some recently approved paving projects requested by Mayor Robert Smith.
Parking lots at the Hitching Lot and Trotter Convention Center and Catfish Alley have been approved by the council as well as paving the green space at the Riverwalk on the other side of Harvey’s.
The council set aside up $432,000 to use for the projects from $1.4 million left from general obligation bonds. The remaining $1 million was divided among the city’s six wards for additional paving.
Stafford said the council will discuss how to approach the city-wide projects. The Lowndes County Board of Supervisors in June voted to assist the city with the re-paving of the Hitching Lot and Trotter Convention Center parking lots. The city will pay for the asphalt for the parking lots and the county agreed to provide the labor.
Also on Tuesday, the council will appoint a new city prosecutor. Attorneys William Bambauch, Shane Tomkins and Corky Smith are among those who have applied for the position. Columbus attorney and Aberdeen Municipal Judge Scott Colom withdrew his application. The new appointee will replace Tim Hudson.
Jeff Clark was previously a reporter for The Dispatch.
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