McMinnville officials are entering into a new contract in order to continue paving streets in October. The contract will go from APAC-Harrison to Rogers Group.
The change was unanimously accepted on first read Tuesday night and last night by Mayor Jimmy Haley, Vice Mayor Ben Newman and Aldermen Ken Smith, Jimmy Bonner, Rick Barnes and Billy Wood. Alderman Mike Neal was absent.
In August, McMinnville Public Works director Bill Brock informed officials he was having difficulty in getting paving to resume in 2013 due to a contract swap between APAC and Rogers Group.
“Rogers Group has either bought out or traded out work with APAC,” said Brock. “I don’t know which. They won’t tell me. Regardless, Rogers Group supposedly has our contract. Switching contractors has been real tough.”
Paving was supposed to resume in the spring of 2013. Officials designated $180,000 to include paving parking lots surrounding the downtown water tower, Farmers Market and behind The Lot on Court Square in the paving project.
Anticipating that paving would begin months ago, Brock had Public Works employees rip through existing pavement to install a drainage ditch. The parking lot is still rough.
“It’s a mess down there,” said Brock.
The parking lot will be first on the list when paving begins this month.