The Board of Aldermen approved cooperative purchase agreements on Aug. 7 to accelerate planned street resurfacing and prevent seasonal delays. The board authorized a cooperative purchase with Capital Paving not to exceed $700,000 (Bill 25-67) and a cooperative purchase with Vance Brothers not to exceed $1,450,000 (Bill 25-68).

Public Works Director Jeff Fisher told the board the agreements allow the city to "piggyback" bids from other counties and avoid the timing and cost risks of rebidding late in the season: "If we were to attempt to bid the work out, I can't tell you we would be able to get the work done this year as planned." Fisher said the Capital Paving work will include overlays on Dude Ranch, Lazydays, City Parkway and other collectors; the Vance Brothers contract would cover OB Parkway with a scrub seal/cape seal treatment and some chip seals.

Aldermen debated whether to conduct separate first and second readings two weeks apart. Alderman Hoffman and Alderman Collins said the board generally prefers a delay to allow public review, but multiple aldermen and staff argued timing and contractor schedules justified same-meeting first and second readings to secure fall work windows. Alderman Rucker and others asked staff to clarify blue-sheet budget line items; staff said the projects were budgeted.

Both bills passed after roll-call votes. Staff and several aldermen said piggybacking the county contracts should reduce cost and remobilization overhead and increase the chance the work is completed in this construction season.

Fisher said the city will explore longer-term coordination with Camden County to bundle future paving for better pricing and scheduling. He also flagged that some work on Hobie Parkway could require night operations to minimize disruption.