Finance committee approves $75,000 reallocation to water service line replacement

The Tuscaloosa City Finance Committee approved a 2022B budget revision on a voice vote to move $75,000 from the Clements Road Mercedes tank improvement line to the water service line replacement project.

The reallocation, presented as Item 1 under New Business, was described by a staff member as a precaution: "We just in case something comes up, we wanted a little more budget," Brian Kearney, a staff member, said, adding the Mercedes tank line had roughly $300,000 in contingency remaining.

The committee was told the water service replacement project had been briefed earlier to the projects committee by Mister Gurney and is intended to replace lines because of lead and copper piping concerns. Kearney said staff was concurrently working to obtain final quotes and therefore sought a larger transfer than the $51,000 that initial estimates showed.

Committee members indicated they wanted follow-up once the final costs were known. "Do something for this committee. Let us know when it ends up with," the committee chair said after the presentation.

The committee approved the motion by voice vote. Staff noted that if the replacement comes in under budget the funds will return to the bond contingency, consistent with previous practice on similar projects.

The committee did not specify an exact vote tally on the record; there was no discussion of further contractual changes at the meeting and staff said any necessary contract amendment would follow once final pricing is determined.

Staff said they will report back to the committee with the final contractor proposal and exact cost, and the committee reserved further review if an amendment is required.