The Laurel City Council approved a resolution this month to begin steps toward ensuring the city’s water supply for the future.
The council, with a 7-0 vote, authorized the advertisement for construction of the 2019 Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation Project.
According to city documents, the city has planned for a project to rehabilitate the ground storage tanks at Water Plant #2 and Water Plant #3 utilizing funds from Community Development Block Grant PF Grant # 1134-18-228-PF-01 and city matching funds.
The City of Laurel has entered into a contract with Neel-Schaffer for professional services for design, construction administration, and resident project representation for the project.
Officials said Neel-Schaffer is currently preparing plans and specifications for the projects. Therefore, the city’s administration needed authorization to advertise for bids for the construction of the project.
Also during the meeting, the council adopted a resolution authorizing Mayor Johnny Magee, acting on behalf of the City of Laurel, to sign an Eighth Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Suez Water Environmental Services, Inc. as amended and restated.
In a separate matter, the council approved an order authorizing the purchase of Tasers and body cameras from Axon Enterprises, Inc. for the Laurel Police Department.
Additionally, the police department was granted permission to update its inventory of duty handguns, and the council adopted a resolution authorizing alternative signatures for documents related to implementation of the AmeriCorps Program for 2019-2020.
The council also adopted an order approving travel expenses for Mayor Magee and Councilman Tony Wheat to attend the City-Building Exchange in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 9-11.
In other business, the council set October 8 as the public hearing date for 13 pieces of properties in the city to determine whether or not the properties are in such a state of uncleanliness so as to be a menace to the public health and safety of the community.