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Beaumont council approves multiple contracts, sets 10-day water-bill grace period
Summary
The Beaumont City Council on Oct. 14 approved a set of infrastructure and maintenance contracts and amended the city code to set a 10-day grace period for utility late fees, while allowing some owners of unsafe structures temporary access to a city work program.
The Beaumont City Council on Oct. 14 approved a series of contracts for public works and utilities and amended the citycode to give utility customers a 10-day grace period for late payments, the council said during its regular meeting at Beaumont City Hall.
Council action covered a range of items including electrical upgrades at lift stations, street and waterline restoration work, sewer outfall pipe coating, and a quiet-zone median reconstruction project near railroad crossings. Council also approved a 10-day grace period for late water and sewer fees and established a limited, conditional path for owners of unsafe structures to enter a city work program if they meet tax-payment requirements.
Most of the contract awards were routine purchasing decisions presented by city staff, including a contract to Gulf Coast Electric Co. Inc. for electrical control improvements for several lift stations, and an award for Quiet Zone median reconstruction to CTEKs Construction Corporation of Beaumont. Council members discussed vendor outreach after staff said hundreds of vendors were notified but only a single bid returned in one case; staff explained some work is specialized and attracts few municipal bidders.
On the billing amendment, Finance staff recommended a 10-day grace period after comparing peer cities. Council debated a longer 21-day period favored by some members; after debate the council voted to adopt the 10-day recommendation and added a caveat that no customer be charged a late fee for the current billing cycle while staff prepares a follow-up workshop on billing practices and the results of an internal audit.
Council also approved change order No. 3 for a pipe-bursting contract (Grand Avenue/Magnolia Avenue phase) that adds 15 calendar days to address additional work. The council approved a series of other awards and change orders related to street rehabilitation, wetland outfall pipe coating, waterline replacement and lift-station controls.
Votes and next steps: council members approved the consent agenda with several items pulled for separate consideration; those pulled items were discussed and later approved. Staff will prepare a workshop on water billing procedures and bring additional information on procurement outreach and contract timelines back to council.
Councilman George Turner said he wants a vendor-bid workshop to help potential contractors understand the city procurement process. City staff said it will schedule a workshop. Mayor West said the city will also post updates about awarded projects and timing on the city website.
The vote outcomes for the listed agenda items were recorded as approved by the council; the meeting minutes will carry formal roll-call records for each motion.
