JASPER, Tenn. - The plan to extend Jasper's sewer line to the North Pryor Cove area has been approved by city leaders despite a $95,000 overage on the expected cost.
In October 2017, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Community Development Block Grant program awarded Jasper $525,000 to help complete the project that was estimated at the time to cost $708,000.
At the Jasper Board of Mayor and Aldermen's September meeting, Mayor Paul Evans said bids on the proposed extension were opened recently, and that the lowest bid was $95,000 over budget.
Coincidentally, that low bid was from Lofty Construction in nearby Kimball, Tennessee, for $708,000.
"We've got to decide if we want to reject it and rebid it or accept it and put in the difference there or reject it all together and give up the $525,000 grant," Evans told the board.
The project would extend the sewer line along North Pryor Cove Road up to Georgia Lane and around Marilyn Drive down to Gail Lane.
"We've looked at this a lot," Alderman Paul West said. "We've studied this hard."
"We have money in surplus that we can cover that [extra $95,000], and I sure don't want to lose $525,000," Evans said. "Right now, contractors are busy. They have a lot of work, so their prices are actually going to be up."
On other projects, like the town's effort to construct or renovate some sidewalks between its schools and the public library, he said the prices seem to increase every time they are rebid.
"That's the chance you run of rebidding it," Evans said.
He said Lofty Construction beat the next lowest bid by about $90,000.
"This is a project that is desperately needed," Alderman Leon Rash said.
Evans agreed and said the North Pryor Cove area is in "dire need" of sewer services.
"People do want sewer up there," he said.
Evans recommended the board pay the $95,000 difference in expected price out of the city's funds and move forward on the project with Lofty Construction as the contractor.
The board voted unanimously to do so.
"It's time we start improving our town infrastructure," Evans said.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com.