by MATT HUGHES
J-E News Editor
Sebree City Council met in a special called meeting on Wednesday night for the purpose of holding a closed session to discuss possible litigation against Grimes Construction Company, INC. of Paris, KY, the firm handling the city’s $1.2 million waterline rehabilitation project.
On May 15, 2014, the city entered into a contract with Grimes to replace 35,000 feet of outdated and often leaky water lines within the city, and replace 160 water meters with new ‘radio read’ meters. The total bid on the project was $1,174,734.50 and was supposed to be completed within six months.
The grounds for the possible litigation were missing the deadline as well as unspecified contractual issues with “performance and payment for labor, supplies and material”.
Members of the city council met in a two hour closed doors meeting with Jimmy Epley and Jim Hillborn of GRW Engineers in Nashville, TN (the firm that engineered the project), Carl Simms (a representative of the Green River Area Development District) and Randall Redding, a Henderson attorney the city has hired to handle this case.
GRADD provided administration services for the grant and loan funds used on this project.
Council members-elect Jana Forker and Deb Stull were present, but did not take part in the closed session.
Upon returning to chambers, without any discussion, the council passed a resolution authorizing Mayor Ozzie O’Nan to “take any action necessary, including but not limited to, retaining and engaging external consultants, legal counsel or other professionals, and all other necessary steps to resolve the dispute between Grimes Construction Company, Inc. and the City of Sebree”.
The resolution stipulates that any final action that continues, modifies or terminates the contract must be approved by a vote of the city council.
At no time did the council, mayor or either attorney discuss what plan of action the city will pursue against Grimes.
Reach MATT HUGHES
at 270-667-2068 or
matt@journalenterprise.com
No comments:
Post a Comment