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Martin board accpets bids for projects

Martin board accpets bids for projects

Repairs to a water line and the beginning phases of a strip mall complex topped the agenda for the Martin board of mayor and aldermen Monday evening for their formal session.
Taking a recommendation from the city’s public works committee, board members accepted a bid offered by Barsto Construction, Inc. of Huntingdon to upgrade a low-functioning water line on Fowler Road.
Barsto offered a low bid of $29,705 for the project. The Huntingdon company was the lowest bid among five area companies.
The infrastructure needs of a strip mall on Commons Drive Road near Huddle House will soon be met with the board’s acceptance of a bid from Ford Construction of Dyersburg to begin the project.
Ford Construction was the lowest among three bids offered to the Martin Industrial Development Board to begin infrastructure development at the planned strip mall location.
The Dyersburg company’s bid was $339,323.50.
The infrastructure project includes laying the groundwork for utilities needed for businesses wishing to locate on Commons Drive Road.
This is the same location that will soon house Van’s Pharmacy, a business moving from downtown Martin.
In other news, board members opted to use the money already budgeted for local planning and utilize the Northwest Tennessee Development District for that purpose.
Martin Mayor Randy Brundige announced Gov. Bill Haslam recently eliminated local planning offices across the state. The Jackson office provided the City of Martin with planning services. The elimination of that office left the City of Martin without a local planning service.
At the recommendation by Brundige, the board of aldermen allowed the city to contract with NWTNDD for the same price of $11,250 per year to provide local planning services.
“We wanted to use a company close to home and we already have the money budgeted for the purpose of hiring another planner,” Brundige announced.
In announcements, Weakley County Chamber of Commerce Director Barbara Virgin reported the chamber is currently seeking applicants for the county’s leadership program.
The chamber of commerce also warned residents to beware anyone attempting to “sell advertising” for maps or magnets.
Virgin said the only advertising sold for the purpose of maps is those through the chamber office and Novus Printing.
She announced the Dresden office currently had county maps available to anyone wishing to obtain a map.
Martin Fire Chief Russell Schwahn said the department has a pumper under repair and the hope is the pumper will be ready in a “couple of weeks.”
Brundige reported the mother of city recorder Chris Mathis passed Monday morning and asked everyone to send the family their prayers.
The city board’s September informal meeting is planned for 5:15 p.m. on Sept. 6.
The Soybean Festival schedule and highlights of events are now available at Martin City Hall and the Weakley County Press. The section is complimentary.

WCP 8.09.11