Selma council approves $1.56 million contract for Olympia Hill stormwater work

The Selma City Council on Dec. 12 approved a contract to build stormwater drainage improvements in the Olympia Hill subdivision, awarding the work to Albright Constructors of Texas Inc. The award followed a city review of bids and an engineering recommendation.

City staff said they received construction bids on Nov. 21 and that Freeland Turk engineers evaluated them and recommended Albright as the best value. Staff reported a contractual base price of $1,558,665.48 and said the record included a recommended not-to-exceed figure to allow for contingencies. The council approved the contract by voice vote after a motion and second.

Johnny, a city staff presenter, told the council the city had been acquiring the drainage easements needed to perform the work and that three reference checks produced positive responses confirming the contractor’s qualifications. A city representative said the project is expected to be completed "before Thanksgiving" next year.

The record contains inconsistent contingency amounts: staff testimony referred to a not-to-exceed of $1,714,532 (a 10% construction contingency), while the motion text later recorded a different not-to-exceed figure. The council approved the motion as presented on the floor; the finance and contract documents should be consulted for the final, controlling contract value.

The staff presentation referenced the Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as background for the project procurement. Questions during discussion focused on schedule and assurances that easements and references were in order.

The council did not attach additional conditions to the award. The meeting record lists the approval as the final action on the item; staff provided a target completion window and said they would follow up with schedule details and contract paperwork.