Repairs will begin soon on an infrastructure issue at Ossie Davis Parkway after approval Tuesday of a contract by the Waycross City Commission.
The resolution for the $167,937 contract with Thrift Brothers, Inc., was among four commissioners approved along with an ordinance during their bimonthly meeting September 3. One of the other three resolutions also was for an expenditure while the first reading of the ordinance was for closure of an alley.
Commissioners also set a public hearing on an annexation request by an Alabama developer planning an apartment complex on a Ware County parcel just outside city limits. They also recognized Nathan Guy of the Public Works Department as City Employee of the Month for September.
Mayor Michael-Angelo James and Commissioners Sheinita Bennett, Katrena Felder and Diane Hopkins attended the short session in City Hall.
Charlie Bridges of ESG, the city’s engineering contractor, said the emergency work on Ossie Davis at Colley Street will involve all new sewer piping under the roadway to prevent the sinkholes that have developed. He said video of the break in the system wouldn’t allow the current pipes to be lined, which would be an efficient repair, but less costly.
The engineer said the Thrift Brothers bid easily was the best of the four sought by about $60,000 as well as for a time schedule. Bridges estimated it would be about six weeks for work to begin.
Commissioners also approved a five-year contract with TTL, Inc., of Valdosta for $72,244 for annual environmental monitoring services for the Blackwell/ Commons Street Landfill. The contract with TTL, the current provider, is through June 30, 2029 and will be paid from the Waste Management Landfill Closure Fund.
The third resolution authorized a letter to the Georgia Department of Transportation in support of its implementation of techniques and devices for speed control on GDOTmaintained city streets.
The final measure authorized a letter of confirmation to Vantage Development, LLC for city water and sewer service be extended to 415 Sawdust Trail in Ware County. The Alabama firm plans a 100unit apartment complex for the land, which they want annexed into the city.
Ordinance
First reading was approved for the closure of an alley between Pendergast Street and Wadley Street. The alley, which was never opened or used by the city for public access, is approximately 10 feet wide and 98 feet long in a northerly direction between the streets.
Quit claim deeds would go to the adjoining property owners with approval of a second reading September 17.
Public hearing
A hearing on Vantage’s request for annexation of the Sawdust Trail property will be at 4:30 p.m. October 1 in City Hall. The session will precede the commission’s first meeting of the month.
It’s the first step toward bringing the 11.75-acre tract located off the Brunswick Highway into the city.
Employee of the Month
Guy joined the city in January. Public Works Superintendent Matt Elwell said in his nominating letter Guy “is the go-to guy when it comes to anything related to heavy equipment and diesel engines.”
The honoree has been a diesel technician specialist for about a decade. Elwell said Guy also is the maintenance department expert on hydraulic and welding repairs.
“There’s no doubt Nathan’s ‘jack-of-alltrades’ ability and his desire to complete most every job in house has saved the city thousands of dollars,” Elwell said. “He is most certainly an asset to the city.”
