Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Sewer Rehabilitation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mount Olive board tentatively awards sewer-rehab contract to Ralph Hodge Construction pending state approval
Summary
The Town of Mount Olive board voted 4-0 on Oct. 21 to approve a resolution tentatively awarding the VUR-W-ARP-0069 Sewer Collections Rehabilitation Project to Ralph Hodge Construction, contingent on approval from the NC Division of Water Infrastructure; McGill Engineer David Honeycutt said the rebid returned the low bid over budget and that state approval and further paperwork are required before construction can begin.
The Town of Mount Olive board voted 4-0 on Oct. 21 to approve a resolution tentatively awarding the VUR-W-ARP-0069 Sewer Collections Rehabilitation Project to Ralph Hodge Construction, pending approval of bid documents by the North Carolina Division of Water Infrastructure.
McGill Engineer David Honeycutt told the board the project was rebid because the first round produced insufficient bids; the lowest bid on the second round came in over budget. “McGill, the Town, the NC Division of Water Infrastructure and the contractor have worked together to get the project within budget,” Honeycutt said. He asked the board to approve the resolution so state submittals could move forward.
The board’s approval follows questions from Commissioner Delreese Simmons about scope reductions; Simmons said “almost three million dollars was taken out of the project.” Honeycutt said some CCTV and camera work identified in the asset assessment has already been completed, that some pipes had burst and been replaced, and that a dead-end line on Church Street near Tyndall Funeral Home will be capped. Interim Town Manager Glenn Holland identified town staff who will provide day-to-day oversight.
Honeycutt described the next administrative steps: he expects to submit the notice of award and authorization to construct to Caroline Bari within two weeks and said he hopes to have state approval by early November so construction can begin in January 2026 if the state signs off. Mayor Jerome Newton said the project is already roughly a year behind schedule and emphasized the need for oversight and timely action.
The motion to approve Action Memo 10-35 was made by Mayor Pro-Tempore Barbara Kornegay, seconded by Commissioner Vicky Darden, and passed 4-0. The board’s approval is contingent on the NC Division of Water Infrastructure’s final acceptance of bid documents and any remaining state requirements.
The board took no further action on changes to scope during the meeting; Honeycutt and town staff said warranties and surety bonds will be in place once the project is placed in service. The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Nov. 10, 2025.
