Pine Mountain council delays Sullivan Circle drainage project over unresolved easements

Pine Mountain Mayor Mary Ruth Mullins and the Town Council voted on Jan. 15 to delay the Sullivan Circle Drainage Improvement project after consultants reported the town had not yet secured two Williams easements needed to proceed.

Precision Planning advised the council that, without the easements, the town should postpone construction. The consultant warned that if the delay is attributable to the town (the owner), the contractor—Elite Southern Services—could be entitled to additional days to complete the work and might seek an adjustment to contract prices.

Councilperson Curtis Bray questioned whether the town could instead have a grading contractor cut a ditch behind the affected houses to alter runoff and avoid the larger expense. Mayor Mullins responded that the town already has a contract for the work, and Bray later suggested cancelling that contract.

Councilperson Stokeley Pound moved to delay the Sullivan Circle Drainage Improvement project so the easements may be obtained and a proposed change order can be further evaluated; Councilperson Curtis Bray seconded the motion. The motion directed that the Engineer notify the contractor in writing of the delay and that all parties confer about any changes to the scope of work and contract time.

Councilperson Thomas E. Scott was recorded as voting in favor of the motion; the transcript does not record the roll-call votes of other members. The council scheduled a work session to discuss the matter further. The meeting then was adjourned.

No formal amendments to the contract or final pricing decisions were recorded in the meeting minutes; further discussion at the scheduled work session is expected to clarify next steps and any contractor claims for time or money.