McBee council debates bidding water services as some members press to keep town well online

Councilman Robbie Liles moved on Sept. 12 to amend the agenda to advertise bids for water services for the Town of McBee; Councilmember Margie A. Hammond seconded the motion. Mayor Glenn Odom and Councilman James Linton recused from voting on the item; the transcript records Councilman Charlie Sutton voting nay. The minutes do not record a complete roll call or a final outcome for the motion beyond that entry.

The item sparked discussion about whether the town should rebid water services when Alligator Water already supplies residents. Councilmember Hammond asked why the town should solicit bids if Alligator is locally available; Councilman Sutton said Alligator would likely be the lowest bidder and suggested the town should not have turned off its well without a referendum and that residents might “pay twice” for water.

Town Hall Administrator Tisha Jones told the council the utility department’s financial position is about $60,000 better than a year ago and that there have been no complaints in the last six months. Mayor Glenn Odom told the council, “I am willing to sit down and put figures down. This is what it costs to buy from Alligator, and this is what it costs from the Town. Let Tisha Jones set up a meeting to discuss the figures of what is being paid now vs what was being paid before.”

The minutes do not include estimated rates from Alligator Water, a timeline for rebidding, or a recorded final vote on placing the water-services bidding item on the agenda. The council asked staff to prepare comparative cost figures for review.