HAMLET — During a work session on Tuesday, the City Council approved several requests for qualification related to the water system.
As City Manager Matthew Christian explained, an RFQ only means the city is selecting the qualified firm. RFQ notices were published on the city’s website May 26.
“After we select the qualified firms,” Christian added, “then we move forward with negotiating contracts for specific projects or tasks.”
Two RFQs, a $400,000 stormwater asset inventory assessment and a $10 million water system improvement project, were awarded to LKC Engineering of Aberdeen.
“LKC was the only one that responded and had assisted us with the grant application and are familiar with the project, our infrastructure and our staff,” said Christian. The company has also been involved with several projects in Richmond County.
Three companies, including LKC, responded to the call to “assist, advise and install” a mass meter-reading system, according to Christian.
The city manager said he felt that the ability of MeterSYS, a firm out of Raleigh, to work with various vendors and suppliers would best fill the needs of the community.
After a brief presentation by MeterSYS President Andy Honeycutt, the board voted on and approved the motion, which carried 5-1 with councilman Jesse McQueen dissenting.
“I want to go on record as saying I’m not voting against your company at all, I think that it is probably a great company,” said McQueen. “I just don’t think that this is a decision that is going to be positive for Hamlet…I think we’re putting too much money into the reading of the meters. It may be needed at some point, I’m just not ready for it now.”
The council also approved an RFQ for LKC and WithersRavenel as on-call engineering services.
PUBLIC COMMENT POLICY ADOPTED
Later in the meeting, the council officially adopted a policy providing “basic guidelines” for speakers during the public comment period of city meetings.
Christian said there wasn’t a formal policy in place.
The policy requires speakers to state their name and allots them five minutes (amended from three), and groups are directed to appoint a spokesperson. It also prohibits “personal attacks” and “inflammatory or immaterial” comments.
The council will not be required to address comments at that meeting, but can take notes and follow up at the next meeting.
Last year, the Richmond County Board of Commissioners updated its public comment policy. Click here to read that story.
RURAL TRANSFORMATION GRANT
Christian also discussed the Rural Transformation grant, recently awarded to the city by the N.C. Department of Commerce.
Hamlet received a $400,000 grant under the category of Community Enhancements for Economic Growth.
Click here to read more about the grant.
Christian suggested forming a team to “discuss how to reconfigure the scope of the work.”
The funding will be used to continue improvements at Hamlet City Lake.
“We should use the grant to get the bridge which will be the single-most-expensive thing and then we can do the other work among ourselves incrementally,” Christian said.
CHANGING OF THE CLERK
Tuesday’s meeting also marked the last for City Clerk Gail Strickland, who worked for the municipality for 20 years.
“I’m anxious to see what is next,” said Strickland.
“I want to thank Gail for the dedication to her work and that she will be sorely missed,” said Councilman Oscar Sellars, whose comments were echoed by the other board members and city administrators.
Cindy Terry will take the place of Strickland and was sworn in at the May council meeting as the new clerk and zoning planner.
The consideration of personnel policy updates was presented, but due to recommended substantive edits — including a new social media policy — the measure was tabled until the July meeting.
The next meeting will be July 11 at 6 p.m. and the August meeting will be moved to Aug. 15 at 6 p.m.
