Ehrhardt awards contracts for new water system
Jerry E. Halmon, Staff Writer
The Ehrhardt Town Council
unanimously passed a resolution
in a special call meeting on
October 26 to award contracts in
three Divisions of work for the
new water system.
In Division 1 of the project,
which was noted by town
administrator Scott Neeley as the
“biggest part of the project and
were the most money is spent,” of
the five bids submitted the
contract was awarded to Gene
Ray Fulmer Construction Inc. of
Ridge Spring SC. in the amount of
$1, 707,097.50. The work in
Division 1 will include
installation of water lines, valves
and hydrants. The next lowest
bidder for the work in Division 1
was Green Construction
Company with a total bid amount
of $2,201,725.00. Mayor Bill
Stanley noted that the bid that was
approved by council “left on the
table close to $500,000 in savings
for the over-all project.”
Division II of the project was
awarded to Caldwell Tank of
Louisville, Ky. in the total amount
$719, 200 to construct a 100,000
gallon elevated water tank.
Caldwell was the only bidder in
Division II. Neeley noted that the
company “built a lot of tanks in
South Carolina.”
Division III was awarded to
Wateree Construction Company
of Sumter SC. in the amount of
$242,675.00 for installation of
water meters, meter reading,
software and installation of meter
equipment.
Also during the meeting:
Ehrhardt Town Council
members agreed to delay a second
reading of the ordinance on
animal control until Town
Administrator Scott Neeley can
make changes in the ordinance
language related to dogs being
under the control of their owners.
In discussion of the
ordinance Administrator Neeley
stated that “you said that you
didn’t want a strict leash law.”
Police Chief Jim Preacher stated
that “state law says that he (a dog)
can’t leave the property unless
under control of a leash. The town
is responsible for enforcing state
law.”
Councilman Bill Edinger noted that, “I think what we talked
about was not about a leash law,
but the dog had to be under the
control of the owner.” Preston
Davis stated that he recently had
to run a dog off his property three
times that had a tag and dog
collar, Davis said the dog chased
his cat “would’ve killed it.”
Nell Walling, whose
grandson was recently attacked by
a dog said; “An animal isn’t
predictable, an animal that may
have never done anything to
anyone for some unknown reason
may suddenly do something, you
can’t say for certain what any
animal won’t do at anytime.”
Police Chief Jim Preacher
noted; “What we are doing is
trying to control the pets we have
here, If you’re going to have pets
you must be responsible enough
to take care of them. We want
people to have control over them.
The dog that did the damage was
fed by someone, but the damage
he did was horrendous. Any
animal must be under direct
control of the owner, if not the
owner must be penalized.”
“There are too many dogs
running around, we need to put in
rules that everyone understands,”
Council Edinger said.
The Cities of Bamberg
County will sponsor a Veterans
Day Program at the Bamberg
Civic Center on Wednesday
November 11 at 11:00 a.m. The
featured speaker for the program
is Butch Jacobs. The Bamberg -
Ehrhardt High School Band will
be performing along with the
JROTC. All branches of the
armed services will be recognized
in honor of our veterans. A lunch
will be served after the program.
The event is open to the public.