By John Howell
Aldermen voted Wednesday to award a contract for relocation of the city’s gas line from the TGT pumping station facilities, under the Tallahatchie River and south of its present route to allow for bridge replacement, to Mid-South Boring and Piping for $1,261,227.90.
The Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) is requiring the gas line relocation prior to the start of construction that build a new bridge south of the present structure on Highway 6. MDOT will reimburse the city for its expenditure.
During Wednesday’s adjourned meeting City Engineer Blake Mendrop recommended Mid-South’s bid be accepted as lowest and best. The only other bid for the work was $1,578,612.25;
In other business during the February 16 regular Second Tuesday meeting and the adjourned meeting on Wednesday:
• City officials unanimously approved Alderman Eddie Nabors nomination of Melanie Buford to serve on the Batesville Planning Commission;
• The Batesville Police Department received unanimous approval from aldermen to replace an aging Computer Voice Stress Analyzer with a new model and to send Detective Jeremiah Brown to attend a certified examiner/training course for $5,790;
• ATT was approved for a permit to bore and place fiber optic cable on city right-of-way at Corporate Drive;
• C Spire received permission to bore and place fiber optic cable under College Street to reach the Batesville Code Office;
• Magnolia Tooling’s application for ad valorem tax exemption for an expansion to its building at 325 Brewer Road was approved;
• Aldermen unanimously approved purchase of 15.73 acres from Meacham  Partners, L.P for $35,000. The city’s annual lease on the site for its dog pound expires in May.
“They’re ready to sell it if y’all want to buy it,” Mayor Jerry Autrey said;
• Aldermen approved $5,000 for a July Fourth fireworks show. Mayor Jerry Autrey said that he would recruit sponsors for the remaining $5,000 for the pyrotechnics’ company’s charge and also for entertainment. The show is scheduled for Saturday, July 2;
• Fly Timber representative James Wells met with city officials Wednesday to make plans to minimize street damage and inconvenience to Sherwood Place residents during a pending timber harvest. Aldermen voted to require the timber company to post  $25,000 bond. City Engineer Blake Mendrop scheduled a meeting at the site with Wells to photograph the existing condition of the street.