Colbert moves forward with cemetery expansion project

The job was awarded to Ed Sanders Construction Company. The $7,800 price covers the cost of clearing, seeding, placing straw, installation of a silt fence and removal of all debris.

The council wants to expand the cemetery by 100 to 125 lots.

The city will start selling lots once grass grows on the cleared land.

There are only 15-17 lots remaining in the newer section of the cemetery.

In other business conducted in a Monday called meeting, city leaders agreed to contract with engineering firm Moreland Altobelli Associates to correct drainage problems in downtown Colbert near the railroad tracks.

The project will cost $3,500.

Mayor John Waggoner said it’s likely that the project can be funded through DOT grant money. Moreland Altobelli Associates is headed by Tom Moreland, the former commissioner of the state DOT.

If grant money isn’t available, the city will only have to pay half the cost — $1,750 — for the firm’s services.

“It’s just a matter of taking a chance on the $1,750,” Waggoner said. “Personally, I think it’s worth it to try to get the problem resolved.”

The Colbert City Council also agreed to spend $1,793 to contract with Phillips Solutions out of Hull for computer service.

That money is covered in the budget.

That price includes a new machine and $100-a-month in support service.

The hard drive in Colbert’s current computer is 5-6 years old and Waggoner said it was time for a change.

“We’ve never really had a decent set up,” he said.

Waggoner said when dealing with computers, he’d rather deal with someone that he’s familiar with, rather than seeking the lowest bid.

“Just like going to the moon,” Waggoner said. “I wouldn’t want to ride that rocket to the moon at the lowest bidder.”