Selma council studies bond work

Published 11:06 pm Monday, April 19, 2010

SELMA — A majority of city council members have heard estimates of what it’ll cost to repair some buildings, pave some streets and repair some sewer lines.

Council members listened to engineers representing specialities in the streets and sewer, and architects specializing in the buildings talk about costs and scopes of work Monday night during a work session.

Some of the prices, such as $150 to hang door hinges at a fire station, seemed high to some board members.

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“i just can’t believe a door hinge would cost that much,” said Councilwoman Susan Keith of Ward 2.

Others raised concerns about the extent of the work and the money from the $12 million bond issue passed last year to cover it.

Most of the infrastructure work will focus on East Selma in Ward 8 with some in Ward 7.

That’s because East Selma is the oldest portion of the city, said Ray Hogg of Hogg Engineering in Selma.

Hogg is the engineer on the sewer project.

“I want that known,” said Ward 1 Councilman the Rev. Dr. Cecil Williamson. “There have been a lot of rumors out there that East Selma would not receive any of the repairs from the bond money. It’s getting a majority.”

No firm figures for the work were announced. The council will study the projects, prioritize them and give them back to the engineers and architects as early as next week when the council meets again.

Once the lists are set, engineers and architects will begin writing specifications and the jobs will be advertised for bids, said Mayor George Evans.