Tuscaloosa committee approves five routine contracts, awards $100,000 for HOPE summer jobs program

Tuscaloosa City New Development Projects Committee members approved five routine contract actions and authorized a $100,000 municipal funding agreement for the city’s HOPE summer jobs program.

The committee approved the purchase and installation of a replacement fluoride tank at the Jerry Plott Water Treatment Plant, accepted a deductive change order for Carlton Park drainage work, authorized a traffic‑signal maintenance agreement tied to an ALDOT project, closed out a taxiway seal‑coat project with a balancing change order and awarded a $100,000 contract to Temporary Emergency Services to administer the city’s HOPE summer jobs program.

The approvals were routine and mostly uncontested. Committee discussion included technical details about equipment lead times, project scope changes discovered in the field, and how the summer jobs program will be administered and where students will be placed.

The fluoride tank and funding Brian (staff member) said the city will replace the existing 3,000‑gallon fluoride product tank at the Jerry Plott Water Treatment Plant. The contract with Moro Water Technologies is for $26,534.80, and Brian said $25,000 of the cost will be covered by a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health; the remainder will come from the plant’s operational budget. Brian said the old tank is leaking where pipes enter and exit and needs replacement, and that lead time for the new tank is about four weeks. The committee approved the contract by voice vote.

Carlton Park drainage deductive change order Staff member Zach summarized a deductive change order for the Carlton Park drainage improvement project, describing installed drainage structures, a replaced sidewalk on Elm Street and a replaced pipe to a drainage channel. Zach characterized the item as a deductive change order; the transcript recorded two similar numerical amounts in discussion (appearing as $10,009.43 and $10,943.89). The committee approved the change order by voice vote.

Traffic signal maintenance agreement (ALDOT project) Brett (staff member) described a maintenance agreement tied to signal and intersection improvements at the intersections of Mercedes Drive and Donner/Daimler‑Benz Boulevard and the Exit 89 southbound on‑ramp. Brett said the work is an ALDOT project; the contractor will install the signal equipment and the city will assume maintenance after installation. The committee authorized the mayor to execute the maintenance agreement.

Airport taxiway balancing change order Airport staff (name not specified) presented a balancing change order with JJ Cunningham LLC for a taxiway seal‑coat project. The transcript records a project with LDOT grant participation at a 75/25 split; work included roughly 66,000 linear feet of crack repair, a silicone application over a little more than 11 acres, and about 2 acres of marking improvements. The total balancing change was discussed with two slightly different figures in the record (one appearing as about $15,003.26 and another as about $15,326); staff said LDOT agreed to cover its portion, leaving an estimated city share of approximately $3,832. The committee approved closing out the contract.

HOPE summer jobs program administration contract Leperi (staff member) explained the city issued an RFQ for administration and management of the HOPE summer jobs program for students ages 15–21. Only one proposal was received — from Temporary Emergency Services (TES) — and the committee authorized a municipal funding agreement with TES for $100,000 to administer the program. Leperi said the funding will support placements for roughly 45–50 students and staff are coordinating with the city school board; students will be placed at the amphitheater and with various city agencies and other locations across the city. The committee approved the contract by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Item 1 — Authorization for a minor public‑works contract with Moro Water Technologies to purchase and install a fluoride tank at the Jerry Plott Water Treatment Plant; amount: $26,534.80; funding: $25,000 ADPH grant + plant operational budget; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 2 — Deductive change order to the contract with Apex Civil for Carlton Park drainage improvements; amount: transcript shows inconsistent figures (see clarifying details); outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 3 — Authorization for the mayor to execute a traffic‑signal maintenance agreement (ALDOT project) for improvements at Mercedes Drive and Donner/Daimler‑Benz Boulevard and the Exit 89 southbound on‑ramp; outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 4 — Balancing change order with JJ Cunningham LLC for taxiway seal coat project (LDOT grant participation 75/25); total change and city share discussed in meeting (see clarifying details); outcome: approved by voice vote. - Item 5 — Authorization to execute a special municipal funding agreement with Temporary Emergency Services to administer the HOPE summer jobs program; amount: $100,000; serves roughly 45–50 students; outcome: approved by voice vote.

Committee business and next meeting The chair closed the meeting after approving the items and confirmed the next New Development Projects Committee meeting will be on Tuesday in May at 2:30 p.m. (date not specified in the record).