Bids being sought for Bude ditch upgrades

by Sean Dunlap

The United States Department of Agriculture’s National Resources Conservation Service has issued documents to the Town of Bude for work to officially commence related to a long-anticipated ditch stabilization-erosion control project near the intersection of C and South Holly streets.

Brock White of Dungan Engineering — the town’s engineer of record — asked aldermen for the authority to publicly advertise for contractors to take on the work during the panel’s monthly business meeting on Tuesday, March 1.

The measure was adopted unanimously.

“We would like to be able to open bids for this on Tuesday, April 12, which is past your usual board meeting,” White said.

“But, the time frame for this construction might warrant a special called meeting to review the bids and hopefully keep this rolling forward without having to seek any time extensions.”

He noted the town has been approved by NRCS for up a maximum of $158,562 for the project with the town required to provide a local match as part of the agreement.

Alderman Jillian Dunmore questioned White as to the scope of work — particularly how far the stabilization might go according to engineering plans.

“The work will include about 50 to 75 feet toward where the ditch makes the hard turn towards the woods — that’s the south end of the project,” White added. “This will address the area where the existing erosion problem is a real concern.”

He went on to note the stabilization will be accomplished via grouted rock riprap placed in the ditch to lessen the impact of stormwater runoff on nearby property.

In other business, White addressed ongoing issues the town has experienced in regards to the installation of digital water meters throughout the municipality.

“Last month when I was here, there was a good many accounts that had irregularly high bills or seemed out of whack,” he said. “The next day or two afterwards, a representative of the meter company came and sat down with the (town hall staff).

“From what I have heard, they found some of the things that were causing the high bills. Some of the issues that were found included accounts dating back to 2014 that had associated penalty fees and other accounts had some ‘fixed zeroes’ behind their monthly usage.

“In those instances, someone using 2,000 gallons of water was being billed for 200,000 gallons. Some of it was input error and some of it involved the computer billing software that required clean-up.

“The company representative said he would be willing to come back if we continue to have trouble with the water billing. We still have about 70 to 80 accounts that have to be entered into the billing software.

“Those meters are in the ground, but the readings are not being picked up right now because they are not in the system. The sooner those get in, the more accurate accounting you will have in regards to water usage.”

White noted the town is retaining an estimated $11,600 of the water meter contractor’s final payment until municipal leaders are happy with the installation and the system is operating as it should.

In one final comment about the NRCS ditch stabilization effort, White said Dungan Engineering has had workers doing preliminary survey work in regards to the project.

“We’re getting our teeth into that right now,” he continued.
In other action, the Bude Board of Aldermen:

• Tabled action regarding the formal adoption of municipal water and sewer rates until last week’s meeting, which was recessed, can resume at 6 p.m., Tuesday, March 15 at town hall.

A lengthy discussion ensured among aldermen about the rates that were presented for consideration by the town clerk and municipal attorney.

In a related matter, the panel also tabled action on septic tank usage with the town’s corporate limits and enacting an ordinance establishing penalties for tampering with municipally owned water meters.
• Approved a pay request in the amount of $5,000 from Southwest Mississippi Planning and Development District for its administrative oversight of a Community Development Block Grant awarded to the town in the amount of $383,685.

The federal funding, which does not require local matching funds, is earmarked for ongoing improvements to Bude’s sanitary sewer system.

• Adopted the town’s reconciled revenue and expense statements for November, December and January.

• Gave approval to Mayor Linda Green to sign lease documentation for the use of municipal property by Franklin Telephone Co., and its contractor for short-term parking of equipment in relation to plans to construct fiber optic infrastructure to the AITX plant site on Gerard Street.

Attorney Mary Kathryn Williamson noted the lease would be for an estimated 120 days and she would seek several appraisers’ opinions for the general value for the land, which is adjacent to the town’s public works facilities at the old mill site.

“We’re also making a finding that the property is not being used by the town right now and this is for the good of the community because the telephone company is laying important infrastructure,” Williamson went on to say.

• Authorized classifying the town’s new police cruiser — a Dodge Challenger — as an “unmarked” vehicle with a standard county-issued license plate.

In a related matter, Police Chief Reggie Cain said his department’s current Dodge Durango vehicle, which previously had limited markings, will now be fully striped.

• Discussed the town’s hazard mitigation plan, including a filing of an intent to participate and naming the municipal designated representative for the initiative.

“After many years of not being part of the program, we have the opportunity to get back in,” Williamson told the panel.

“Having this program in place gives us our flood insurance and opens us up for money made available after a disaster ... so it’s important that we participate.”

The panel voted to take part in the outreach and named Mark Thornton, who also serves as the county’s Emergency Management-Homeland Security director, as the town’s representative for the program.

• Listened to a myriad of concerns from municipal water customers Jo Schneyder, who questioned the town’s billing practices, and Michael Middleton, who noted his water had been cut off since late 2021.





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