Fairhope mayor, council tussle over engineering contract

By Cliff McCollum
Posted 1/18/17

Disagreements over the selection of an engineering firm to study Fairhope’s water, sewer and gas systems created some tense moments during the Jan. 9 Fairhope City Council work session and …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Fairhope mayor, council tussle over engineering contract

Posted

Disagreements over the selection of an engineering firm to study Fairhope’s water, sewer and gas systems created some tense moments during the Jan. 9 Fairhope City Council work session and meeting.

Mayor Karin Wilson recommended that Cassady Company, a Northport based firm, be awarded the contract to study Fairhope’s water, sewer and gas systems.

Councilman Kevin Boone said he had concerns about approving the recommendation because the firm was not a local one. Though Wilson told Boone Cassady is a resident of Fairhope, Boone remained concerned.

“I’m just not following why we can’t use a local company,” Boone said. “He may be here, but the company is not. I’m just saying that I’d rather use local. Fresh eyes are not necessarily good. They don’t know the first thing about the system like Volkert does or Preble Risch, who know as much as our crews do or more.”

Wilson appeared upset Boone was scrutinizing her recommendation.

“If y’all are going to micromanage every decision I make when we meet twice a month, we’re never going to go anywhere,” Wilson said. “This is ridiculous.”

Boone said the city had plenty of engineers that were already pre-qualified with the city and that had experience within the system, potentially making the job of doing a study much easier.

“We’ve got six engineers you can pick from any time you like that are good to go,” Boone said. “Present one of those six and we’re good to go.”

Wilson continued.

“You are making a mountain out of a molehill for a $20,000 study,” Wilson said. “I want to see if every single time someone was presented for a vote if you’ve given this much hassle to approve something.”

Wilson said she felt like Boone was trying to impede the city moving forward.

“I think you’re doing this to be a roadblock,” Wilson said. “Thank God this is being live streamed. You are making a roadblock. I’m only going to consider an engineering company that has never looked at our sewers.”

Wilson said the Cassady Company had “emailed that scope and his price two and a half months ago.” Since Wilson was not yet authorized to negotiate a bid contract with the firm due to a lack of council approval, it remains unknown at this time whether Wilson may have violated state bid law in getting that price.

Council President Jack Burrell tried to offer a compromise candidate to move the discussion along, HMR - an engineering firm that has worked with the Mobile Area Water and Sewer Service to do similar studies.

Councilman Jay Robinson said he would back such a move.

“My personal feeling is that I’d like to get something approved with sewage as soon as we can,” Robinson said.

Wilson and Boone then began a tense exchange of dialogue:

Wilson: “Basically what you’re saying to everyone is that you don’t trust my opinion.”

Boone: “Pretty much.”

Wilson: “So you don’t trust the people that voted me in.”

Boone: “No, I don’t trust your opinion.”

Wilson: “The citizens voted me in as mayor. It’s my job to pick out people for professional services.”

Boone: “The people voted me in to approve what you do. I already know what my job is - to approve.”

Burrell questioned how Wilson had made the decision to select the Cassady Company for the contract, as he had heard local Fairhope artist Dean Mosher had helped lead Wilson to the choice.

“I don’t like the fact that it was not done local,” Burrell said. “And I heard who has advised you on this. I heard Dean Mosher told you to hire him. I think this council should advise you, not Dean Mosher.”

Wilson said she was not pleased with the council trying to deny her request and warned it could lead to another delay on the study.

“We’re going to be prolonged more,” Wilson said. “Right here is exactly why Fairhope will not move forward in a positive way.”

During the council meeting, the council voted to amend the resolution to name HMR as the engineering firm, replacing Wilson’s recommendation of the Cassady Company.

“Obviously, we’ve had this discussion in multiple meetings that our sewer capacity is an issue that needs to be addressed sooner rather than later,” Robinson said. “I understand the mayor has her criteria; she wants fresh eyes. I think the selection of HMR would constitute fresh eyes from that perspective. I think everyone wants us to move forward with this.”

The council voted unanimously to amend the resolution and award the contract to HMR.

One resident shouted “Bulls- - -” after the council finished voting. Burrell instructed the Fairhope police officer in the room to remove the person if they chose to shout out expletives again.