POPLARVILLE — Eutaw Construction was awarded a bid for $92 million or construction of sewer and water lines for the many projects the Utility Authority has planned.
Pearl River County Utility Authority Engineer Brooks Wallace said the work will involve water lines from the new water tank and well in Poplarville to Hillsdale, to the City of Poplarville and to Lumberton. In the Picayune area, the construction project also will involve new water lines to the area formerly covered by Dixie Utilities.
Sewer lines will be installed from Picayune’s old sewer treatment plant to the new sewer plant and to the Westchester subdivision, Wallace said.
The estimated cost for all of the work was about $14 million, but Eutaw Construction bid the projects out for less than $9.2 million.
The Utility Authority board accepted that bid during their meeting Wednesday.
Wallace said the project is expected to take about two years to complete.
The Utility Authority also won the third place Gulf Guardian’s Award for their work in establishing the Utility Authority and for the work it has done or has underway, Wallace said.
Some problems with some of the Authority’s systems prompted the Environmental Protection Agency to send the Authority some letters, Michael Switzer said. Those problems were minor and resolved quickly. One of the problems dealt with the Picayune and Poplarville waste water treatment plants. Apparently plants took in too much water to treat during previous months when there was heavy rainfall. Switzer said he explained the situation to the EPA.
Another problem involved pH levels in the Poplarville waste water treatment plant being too low. Switzer said at that time the operator of the plant was on vacation and a Picayune operator was filling in. No one told the Picayune operator that the aerator pumps had to be turned off at night to keep the right amount of oxygen in the water. After informing the operator of the proper procedure, pH levels are back to normal.
Three invoices sent to developers in the county were not paid. Wallace said Capital Investments, G9 and JST Properties all owe money to the board, but have yet to pay. Board president Steve Lawler suggested the board send those companies letters asking for payment in 10 days. If payment is not received in that time, then the board will take action.
A new payment drop box will be installed outside of the Utility Authority’s office in Picayune’s industrial park. This will allow customers to pay their bills when the office is closed.
The board went into executive session to discuss personnel and costs for Southwest Water providing services to Round Rock and Wildwood subdivisions.
In other business the board;
— Approved right of way acquisition amounts for property in Hillsdale.
— Approved recurring payments to employees, payroll taxes, reimbursement of authorized travel and insurance premiums and a monthly janitorial bill.
The next meeting of the Utility Authority is scheduled for 2 p.m. Dec. 3, in the City of Picayune council chambers.
Local News
November 6, 2008
Lines, pipes and awards
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SIDEWALK WORK CONTINUES
SIDEWALK WORK CONTINUES — Jeffrey Hartfield, left, and Eddie Fry finish up sidewalk work in front of Snyder Park on Beech Street on Thursday. They work for RJM, which subcontracted the work from HSI. Almost the full length of Beech is getting a workover in a $400,000 project.
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CROSSES ERECTED
St. Charles Catholic Church on Goodyear Boulevard has erected crosses it says represents the number of abortion daily in the U.S.
- Shooting suspects bound to grand jury Two of the three suspects involved in December’s deadly shoot-out have been bound over to the grand jury. Those defendants are 27-year-old Quincy Jones and 31-year-old Decori King.
- Saturday noon is last chance to register to vote in March 13 primaries The heated race to see who will get the Republican nomination for President continues and is coming to Pearl River County, as voters trek to the polls to vote in the Republican and Democratic presidential primaries on March 13, and in the primaries for the U.S. Senate and congressional races.
- Friends of Boley discuss next cleanup Members of the Friends of Boley met Thursday morning to plan for their next big cleanup. With the next cleanup scheduled for April 21, Christy Goss, a city employee, suggested combining that effort with the Great American Cleanup the city participates in each year.
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SAFETY DAY
Picayune Police officers made a visit to the First Baptist Church of Picayune’s preschool class for their Community Helpers Safety Day. During the event the kids got to meet police officers and trigger lights and sirens in patrol vehicles.
- Escapee caught in county Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies have captured the inmate who escaped from Mississippi Department of Corrections custody on Friday after attending his father’s wake in Picayune.
- Council discusses which funds to spend first On the same day as the ground breaking for the addition to the historic City Hall, city council members discussed which funds to spend first in its construction.
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Poplarville aldermen honor Holliday, get audit report briefing
The city board of aldermen honored former District Three Supervisor Hudson Holliday at its Tuesday night meeting.
Mayor Billy Spiers presented Holliday with a framed resolution of appreciation for his dedication and service to the city while serving as county supervisor.
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MRI INSTALLED
This $1.2 million Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment was installed at the new location of Highland Community Hospital.
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