Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Contractor Picked For Project

Gurdon Water and Sewer discussed the bid from McClendon Construction Co., of Palestine for the Greenville/Phase II-C water project

McClendon Construction Co. was recommended by project engineer Charles Summerford, of Summerford Engineering, Inc. in Arkadelphia, from the three bids offered.

Summerford spoke of Charles McClendon, Jr. a small bonded contractor and owner of McClendon Construction Co., as "a reputable person."

The recommended bid was for $95,669 to cover the cost of installing water lines, pumping stations and accessories including the telemetry control system.

Summerford covered the cost of the telemetry control system, which includes additions for the two other wells and will control all three wells when put into place.

Currently, Harold Hurst, department manager of the Gurdon Water and Sewer Department, must monitor the water level and pressure. "We need the controls. That way when the pressure dropped the system comes on automatically," said Hurst. "They've had enough problems out of the system your using to quit making them," Summerford said.

The new system has individual level indicators to automatically regulate the pressure. McClendon's bid includes this system, but Summerford provided numbers to show the project's cost without the control system for the commission to examine.

A motion was made to spend up to $17,000 and to present the commission's recommendation of McClendon to the Gurdon City Council for awarding of the contract. The $17,000 comes from money taken in for this project from International Paper, Co., Gurdon School District and connection fees.

The proposed construction contract and indirect costs total an estimated project cost of $126,000. The remaining funds from Rural Development available to Gurdon total $112,276.72. Leaving $13,723.28 to be covered by Gurdon with the afore mentioned money from the commission.

The commission received a favorable audit and compliments from Ronnie Rodgers of Taylor, Rodgers, Turner and Malone, Certified Public Accountants. An independent auditor's report is required for the use of federal money, under the Government Auditing Standards.

The report states "In our opinion,...the financial position of G.M.W.S.W. as of May 31, 1999 and 1998 and the results of its operations and cash flow for the years then ended in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles."

The auditors went over building permits, checks, accounts payable and many other sources to confirm all the bonded debt.

However, this audit does not reflect the correct rate structure, so an amended version will be presented to the commission later.

The commission discussed the need for a new radio for the new truck. Hurst said, "I'd like to shop around."