Mayor asks council for $70,000 supplemental appropriation for Lee Street; updates water, wastewater and emergency‑notification work

The mayor asked the Belpre City Council on March 24 to consider a $70,000 supplemental appropriation to pay for repairs on Lee Street and gave a status report on a series of water, wastewater and emergency‑notification projects.

The mayor said the city obtained three bids for the Lee Street work and that the lowest bid came in at “$69.05,” which she said places the project below the $75,000 threshold that would trigger formal bidding law but still requires a supplemental appropriation. She asked the finance committee to consider the $70,000 appropriation to allow the city to proceed.

The mayor also said the city will mail backflow‑inspection letters to property owners and businesses required to have backflow prevention devices inspected annually and will distribute guidance for homeowners with swimming pools about protecting the water system. She reported the city is replacing MXU radio units for water meters and continuing to read meters and perform leak detection.

On larger infrastructure work, the mayor told council staff had selected two firms from submitted RFQs for interviews and requests for fee proposals for the wastewater treatment design, and that a separate 10‑inch water main project is progressing toward contract execution. She said two projects are on hold but did not specify which ones.

The mayor reported the city has obtained one piece of equipment through an EPA drinking‑water grant: a generator that “will be installed on our well field.” She said she is awaiting word on the remaining grant components, including signage for the source water. The mayor also said the city’s volunteer fire department did not receive a matching grant for which it applied but may reapply.

The mayor raised the statewide tornado‑drill results, saying some areas did not hear sirens; the city is evaluating an additional call/notification system to supplement sirens. She said the city will update its federal‑aid route listing and share it with the streets committee.

At the end of her report she noted a trash/solid‑waste contract must be finalized before April to preserve the city’s procurement schedule for distribution of new cans and pick‑ups if the city changes vendors.

Council discussion included a request to place the Lee Street appropriation before the finance committee and clarification that the lowest bid amount cited in the meeting transcript appeared abbreviated; the mayor’s remarks were the only source for the amount at the meeting.