Rockford Utilities approves few items
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During its relatively short May meeting, the Rockford Utilities Board approved only a small handful of items.
Aside from the meeting minutes and monthly financial report, the board approved just two items, both of which related to the board’s new building.
Regarding the status of the new building, at that time it was stated that the board was still waiting for concrete to be poured at the site at the intersection of U.S. Highway 231 and Park Circle, near the Rockford Dollar General.
However, in the meantime, Utilities Superintendent Wade Brown reported that he had gotten three cost estimates for fencing and four gates to be purchased and installed at the new building.
Those estimates were $18,066 from Bravo Fencing, $16,282 from Integrity Construction and Fencing and $11,600 from Dawson Trapp.
While Trapp’s estimate was the lowest, Brown explained that it was for residential grade fencing rather than commercial and that it did not include the gates.
After brief discussion, the board, with all members present, unanimously approved hiring Bravo to install the fence, two drive-through gates and two walk-through gates. It was mentioned that even though Bravo had the higher estimate, that price included the correct size gates the board wanted for the site.
Also related to the new building, it was mentioned that they would need a safe for it, with it being stated that a gun safe would suffice for the board’s needs. The board also mentioned needing a 10- or 12-foot conference table for the new building, as well, for its monthly meetings.
The board unanimously approved going forward with purchasing a gun safe and conference table for the building.
In other business, Board Chair Ronnie Brown stated that he had received a price of $4,800 from local auctioneer Chuck Bradley for the backhoe. The board had previously discussed the backhoe at its last meeting, mentioning the Town of Rockford and he board having a shared interest in the piece of equipment.
Now that the board has a value assessed for the backhoe, Brown said he would provide that to the Town Council for review and consideration. The town and board have been in discussion regarding one entity buying out the other’s part of the backhoe.
Also during the meeting, Suzanne Scott with First Bank in Rockford provided the board a general overview of Alabama One Credit Union and how the board’s funds will work with the new credit union, including reviewing the types of accounts pertinent to the board and other general information.
In other business, Utilities Clerk Deanna Lesley provided an update regarding the board’s prior approval of switching to a new billing payment software company.
She stated that there was a correction to the previously quoted prices, with it being $995 for transferring the data and an additional $995 for the software, with both being one-time fees. However, she said the total one-time fee of almost $2,000 was still cheaper than others and stated that they were working on transferring over to the new software at that time.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Utilities Board will be held at 6 p.m. June 19.