Southwest Stormwater Project bid approved
By Melissa Rollins, Editor, editor@newsandpress.net
The Southwest Storm Project is moving forward in Darlington after a vote Dec. 5 during the Darlington City Council meeting. Council voted 5 to 2 with councilmen John Milling and John Segars voted against the motion to approve a $2.5 million dollar bid from Landsdown Earth and Pipe.
City administration put the project out for bid twice, both times receiving bids well above the amount they had allotted to complete the work. Councilmen Milling, Segars and Bryant Gardner all have expressed concern over the amount of money being spent. Those concerns were reiterated in a fashion during the December meeting, especially after council was informed that the city would be dependent on funds from the state, promised by Senator Gerald Malloy and Representative Robert Williams, to make their allotted funds meet the $2.5 million bid price.
“At this time, we do not have the money to complete the entire project,” said City Manager Howard Garland. “However, we’ve been given assurances from Senator Gerald Malloy that if we start the project, he will help us finish it by getting money in the state legislature this coming legislative session. I’ve also gotten assurances from our state representative Robert Williams, who is going to be on the Ways and Means Committee next year, which is a very powerful seat and it controls money, that he’s going to help us fund this project also. It would be the staff recommendation that we move ahead with the Southwest Darlington Stormwater Project, spending the money that we have on hand.”
Garland said that in the bond fund there is currently over a million dollars, along with a grant from the Rural Infrastructure Authority for $445,000.
Mike Hanna of Hanna Engineering told council that, although it would not be ideal, they could start the project, use the money that they have and stop the project when the money runs out.
Milling said that stopping the project when the money runs out doesn’t get the city off the hook for the money if the contract is awarded for $2.5 million.
“We have to pay him that $2.5 million even if we don’t get the money from the legislature,” Milling said. “We’ve got no way out of it.”
Councilman Coleman Cannon said his farewells during the meeting. In January, Sheila Baccus will be sworn-in as the new councilperson for Ward 2.
“I want to thank you so much for allowing me to serve you these many years,” Cannon said. “Matter of fact, I have been doing public serve forty-something years because I spent ten years with the sheriff’s department, ten years with the fire department and also the rescue squad; I’ve been in public service practically all my life. It has been a huge privilege and an honor to serve on this council for 21 years and six months.”
Cannon received a key to the city from Mayor Gloria Hines.
“Rev. Cannon, we want to thank you for 21 beautiful years on council,” Hines said. “Outstanding work. Looking sharp as a tack. We know now that you’ll have more time to work with the church and we know you’ll come visit us always. We wish you the best in everything you do.”
In other business, the city received their 2015-2016 audit from Webster-Rogers. Jennifer Miller said that the city received a clean opinion.