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Votes at a glance: DeKalb PWI committee approves multiple contract changes, a condemnation action and $204,000 for Lithonia sidewalks
Summary
The Public Works and Infrastructure committee approved several contract amendments, sole-source procurements, contract term extensions, a condemnation by declaration of taking for sanitary sewer work and $204,000 in CDBG funds for City of Lithonia sidewalks; the stormwater master plan was deferred for 30 days.
The DeKalb County Public Works and Infrastructure Committee approved a slate of contract amendments, sole-source purchases and other actions during the meeting. Key approvals included: a three-year sole-source agreement for rapid reagent testing; multiple contract change orders for engineering and program management services; term extensions for on-call construction materials and services; a declaration-of-taking condemnation related to a sanitary sewer easement; and $204,000 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for sidewalks in the City of Lithonia. Separately, adoption of the stormwater master plan was deferred for 30 days (see separate article).
Below are the committee'recorded items and outcomes as presented to the committee (agenda IDs appear as provided on staff packets):
- Agenda item 2025-0406 (District 3): Sole-source agreement with IDEX Distribution Inc. for micro testing supplies and reagent services (total not to exceed $326,645). Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0452 (all districts): Change order No. 6 to AECOM Technical Services (CIP program services) to add stormwater program management tasks to support roads and drainage; increase not-to-exceed amount $2,777,352. Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0454 (all districts): Change order No. 1 to Friess & Nichols Graham JV for on-call engineering services (increase not to exceed $350,000). Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0473 (all districts): Cooperative purchase for rental uniforms under Omnia Partners (Cintas Corporation) for three years; amount not to exceed $1,950,000. Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0709 (Districts 4 and 7): Resolution authorizing condemnation by declaration of taking (OCGA references provided in packet) for a sanitary sewer easement at a property on Brockett Road; staff said the parcel includes existing easements and that the county seeks less than 1,700 square feet in the rear yard so it can relocate a sewer lateral closer to the creek channel to prevent erosion and meet a consent-decree schedule. Motion to approve carried.
- Multiple term extensions and change orders for on-call construction materials and repair contracts (HDPE pipeliners, ready-mix concrete, traffic/signage supplies) to preserve continuity while new solicitations are prepared; several items extended through 2026 or 2027 and approved by the committee.
- Agenda item 2025-0430 (all districts): Change orders to nine on-call professional engineering contracts (design, dams, bridge repair, drainage); total additional authorization not to exceed $3,050,000. Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0349 (all districts): Change order to Kendall Supply (water meters and parts) to expand scope to include measuring chambers for larger meters (inch-and-a-half and above); contract award originally noted as $22,500,000 (2023); spent to date noted as $3,430,000. Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0387 (all districts): Change orders to SCADA controls and instruments contracts to extend term and increase funds through Dec. 31, 2026; aggregate requested authorization $5,385,000. Audit review supported the amount; audit observations will be reconciled by staff. Motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0466 (Districts 2 and 6): Easement abandonment at 153 Hood Circle (Decatur) to release an unused sewer easement after the line was rerouted; motion to approve carried.
- Agenda item 2025-0707 (Districts 5 and 7; City of Lithonia): Allocation of $204,000 in CDBG funds for sidewalk construction in Lithonia (approximately 0.28 miles / ~1,500 linear feet including ADA ramps). Motion to approve carried.
Committee members asked for clarifications during several items about funding sources and reporting: Reginald Wells, Director of the Department of Watershed Management, said some program management dollars come from ARP funding and stormwater enterprise funds tied to specific work orders; auditors flagged a small number of invoice and contract-reference issues that staff said they will reconcile.
Where the packet listed specific statutory or procurement authorities, staff presented those citations (for the condemnation item the packet referenced OCGA provisions applicable to declarations of taking). For items that increased aggregate contract amounts above audit thresholds, the county auditor's review was noted as "supported" in committee discussion.
No board member recorded a roll-call tally in the transcript beyond standard voice approvals; committee chair called for "all those in favor" and motions were approved by voice. The stormwater master plan item was the only substantive agenda matter the committee deferred for further written materials from staff and the law department.
