The Phenix City Council met for its work session on Monday at 5 p.m. at the Russell County Courthouse. A few requests to address the council were on the agenda, starting with Andrea Haamid who came to request that a light be added to her street in the Staffordshire subdivision on Stafford Rd. Because the city wasn’t response for installation previously, homeowners have to pay to have a light installed; however, the city will pay the electric bill once the homeowner has had the light installed, as long as everything meets city standards.
The second addressee was Valory B. Jenkins who asked questions about her utility bill being higher and the billing cycle only being for 22 days; also, she said the bill wasn’t clear as to the due date. She was upset that she didn’t receive a notice in her bill from the city regarding the increase which happened on March 1. The increase was approved in 2019 in a 3-step process of increases to make it more bearable for citizens. Notices were mailed out with bills, but Jenkins said neither she nor her neighbors had received any notices. Charles Woody, Director of Utilities, explained the increases and billing cycle, adding that his department is in the process of redesigning the bills for clarity.
Because the regular session will be in the evening, past Citizen deadline, votes are not given. The following items were some of the resolutions up for a vote: An agreement with Phenix Paving for $19,205.66 to repair the Economic Development Dept. parking lot; a contract with M&M Staging for a roofing system lease at the amphitheater, April 1-July 5, for $30,000; a contract with William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, LLC for The Red Clay Strays music group to perform at the amphitheater on July 4 for $8,000 to be paid in two installments; the PCPD has $668 unclaimed money and wants the money declared as surplus to be utilized for law enforcement purposes, and last, a contract for the Waste Water Treatment Plant upgrade and expansion project with P.F. Moon and Co., Inc. for $11,283.564.57.
A change order is included that adjusts the price down by $114,717.92, which will bring the cost to $11,168.846.65. This is to allow a change in the DIP class on a buried 42” pipe from 250 to 150 (- $89,600); the removal of two 45” bends on clarifier effluent pipe (-28,701.92); additional conduit and wire from the scum pump and control panel (+$2,000), and an upgraded PLC for grinder to Allen Bradley Micro800 (+$1,584).
The next council work session will be April 3 at 3 p.m. ET at the Martin Idle Hour Park Community Center with the work session the next morning at 9 a.m. ET, also at the community center.