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Supervisors approve road equipment repairs, bridge work and engineering payments; motion to replace engineer with IMS fails
Summary
Board approved several road department purchases, accepted federal/state reimbursements and approved payments to the county engineer firm after debate; a motion to replace the county's engineering service with IMS was proposed but failed to carry.
At its Feb. 10 meeting the Washington County Board of Supervisors approved multiple road- and bridge-related expenditures and accepted reimbursement and final payments tied to state-aid paving projects, while rejecting a motion to replace the county's engineering service with IMS.
Road equipment and repairs
Road department staff presented two repair quotes for a patch truck: Mid South quoted $7,091.29 and DSS Sales (Brandon) quoted $7,743.66. The board voted to approve the lower quote. The board also approved a full engine overhaul for a Caterpillar 307 track tractor after staff said the machine had reached roughly 46,100 hours and the distributor recommended a full rebuild; the quoted rebuild price was $25,287.12 and the board approved that work.
Bridge and engineer updates
The county engineer briefed the board on several bridge projects and on long-term materials choices, saying the county may recommend using precast steel piling encased for improved longevity rather than the steel shell piles used more recently. The engineer said wetlands reports and geotechnical work were in progress for multiple bridge sites and that once those studies are complete the county will advertise the projects for construction.
IMS engineering and payments
Earlier in the meeting supervisors proposed replacing the county's current engineering contractor with IMS Engineering. A motion to add the hiring/firing of the engineer to the agenda was eventually carried for discussion, but a later motion to hire IMS and release the current firm failed by board vote. "I got a motion and a second on the floor. All in favor, show by sign or by. All opposed. Nay. Nay. Motion fails," the president said after the vote.
Separately, IMS representatives asked the board to release funds tied to completed State Aid projects. IMS said the state had accepted SAP 76M (a paving project covering Old Leland Road, Old Highway 61, Stoneville Road and Roy Store Road) and that the state had issued corresponding funds. The county confirmed it had received $144,908.54 related to that state-aid project, and the board voted to release payment for the county construction engineering services tied to that project. The board also approved payment for a remaining balance on the Ferro bridge project of $50,774.40.
Other actions
The board accepted an EMPG reimbursement totaling $37,851.64. The county's justice and planning reports were accepted as presented, and the board approved purchase orders and routine supply bids. The board also confirmed appointments to the Sportsplex Commission after in-person interviews; one of the at-large nominees (Demarcus McKinley) was supported and placed on the Sportsplex board after supervisors voted.
Why it matters: The approvals keep road and bridge projects moving and release state and federal funds to local contractors and consultants. The failed motion to replace engineering services means the county will continue with its current engineer for now but the exchanges signal ongoing dissatisfaction among some supervisors and that the county is actively auditing engineering deliverables.
Ending: County staff said they would follow up with IMS and county legal counsel to reconcile outstanding invoice backup and to schedule a more detailed review of engineering deliverables outside the public meeting.
