Rights-of-Way clearing contract discussed
The Holly Springs Mayor and Board of Aldermen learned more about the availability of contractors to clear vegetation under the rights-of-way under power lines at the July 15 meeting of the board.
Holly Springs Utility Department manager Wayne Jones introduced Brian Corbin, with 2C Construction, who is the owner of a certified company approved by the Tennessee Valley Authority to clear lines of vegetation.
TVA has $430,000 in funds from the Mississippi Legislature to apply to clearing rights-of-way at the Holly Springs Electric Department.
Jones said Corbin is one of three or four vendors approved by TVA’s maximum system. He said Corbin has cut rights-of-way for HSUD in the Slayden area.
The contract Jones created calls for clearing vegetation from ground to sky and removing it by chipping or hauling it away.
He said the contract calls for working three phase lines in areas that have the most customers. The contractor can bid by the mile or by the hour, he said.
“We have to know specifically how much right-of-way has been cut,” Jones said. “Vendors have to be registered and have certain equipment and be approved by TVA’s maximum system.
Mayor Charles Terry asked how much right-of-way can be cut with $435,000 in TVA’s grant from the Mississippi Legislature.
“What can we get for $435,000?” Terry asked.
The contractor makes his bid based on the density of the vegetation on the area that is being cleared, Jones said.
“How did we come by Corbin?” Terry asked.
“We were told we had to get (contractors) approved by TVA,” Jones said.
“Has it been bid or does it have to go to bid?” the mayor asked.
“2C has submitted a bid. It
has not been advertised,” Jones said.
“We have to approve the contract, then proceed with the bid process,” Terry said. “He’s already placed a bid.”
“Because vendors have to be approved and I asked other vendors to bid and there were no vendors,” Jones said.
“We have to publish the advertisement for bids two consecutive weeks in the paper first,” board attorney Garret Estes said.
“We do have the authority to advertise for bids,” Terry said. “We got the cart in front of the horse.” Ward 4 alderman Patricia Merriweather said aldermen want to know the specifications in the contract Jones has created.
“We want to know what area are you doing, and measure, then send it out for bids, and then open the bids,” Merriweather said.
Jones said contractors have to look at the area to see how much they will charge.
“You run the ad two consecutive weeks, then you can set a date to open the bids,” Estes said.
He said 15 days have to pass after publication before the bids can be opened.
Corbin said all TVA’s contractors have looked at the project and he is the only one to make an offer.
“This project has been back and forth,” Merriweather said.
Terry asked that the minutes be checked to see if the authority to put out bids is in place.
“With this contract with addendum,” Merriweather said.
“Let the clerk go back and get the minutes,” Terry said.
Estes said the amended contract Jones offered must be approved and then the advertisements for bids published.
Merriweather made a motion to table the discussion until all the facts are gathered and put in the bid packet for right-of-way clearing.
Jones said he knows of no deadline for spending the funds.
“We have been told more funds may come if we do this,” Jones said.
Merriweather amended her motion to say the motion for cutting the right-of-way be tabled until the next meeting August 5 when the contract Jones created can be reviewed and approved, and then put the project out for bids.
Jones asked for an executive session to discuss the 90-day plan for getting meter reading caught up at the Holly Springs Electric Department.