By BEN GRAFTON
At the Freeport City Council meeting of April 12, Mayor Mickey Marse advised the Council that the final approval for the Florida Energy and Climate Commission Clean Energy Grant for solar powered lights and equipment at the Sports Complex has been approved. Cliff Knauer of Preble-Rish reported to the Council that an audit of the bid on this work had been found to contain costs that should not have been included. The corrected job cost will be $50,000. Knauer will meet with Parks Director Sean Supple and review the job scope.
In other business, City Planner Latilda Henninger announced that the data from the new business directory has been entered on the city’s web site.
Fire Chief Ben Greenslait reported that work on fire hydrants was ongoing.
Greenslait reminded the Council of the annual Easter Egg Hunt that will be held on Saturday at the Sports Complex. He said there would be games, toys, pony rides and 10,000 Easter Eggs. As an added attraction a car will be auctioned off at the event.
Supple reported that the Cancer Society’s Relay for Life event went well.
Supple also reported that the women’s rugby tournament also went well. He said the teams rented 25 motel rooms in the area and that the players were anxious to come back to Freeport for another tournament.
Engineer Jody Solomon announced that the low bidder for the sewage plant work was Martin Construction. The contract will be awarded as bid and then a change order will be issued to add installation of a fiber-glass liner in the collection system where acid is eating away the concrete.
Solomon also reported that revisions to the No. 2 water well control house are under way and that preliminary design work for relocation of utility lines for the Department of Transportation DOT) project to widen U.S. 331 will be complete later in the month.
Angie Jay of Preble-Rish Engineering said that the pre-bid meeting for the North Bay water main project was held on April 12. There are nine qualified contractors with bid packets and the bid opening date is scheduled for May 3. Jay expects field work to start in about 45 days.
City Clerk Robin Haynes asked the Council to cancel the regular Council meeting scheduled for May 10 and reschedule it for Monday, May 16. The Council approved the request.
Haynes asked the Council to set a date to rank the engineering contractors for the project to bring the Wagon Wheel Road well up to standard. The rankings will be done at the next regular Council meeting on April 28.
The Council approved a request by Marse to purchase a replacement “four wheeler” for the one now on hand but out of service in need of major repairs. The replacement cost is expected to be approximately $7,800.
The Council approved renewing the right-of-way maintenance contract with the DOT for grass and litter control on state roads inside of the city. The city will receive $19,000 for this work which does not include work on the U.S. 331 right-of-way.
Councilman Harold Taunton opened a discussion about a pet restraint ordinance for the city. The question of how to enforce such a law was raised. The city will check with the County Animal Control group before moving ahead with a new regulation.