Having opened bids Feb. 4, the Livingston City Council awarded the bid for the South Washington water line improvements to 5T during its Feb. 11 regular meeting.
Engineer Dalton Brown said requests for proposals were sent to eight different companies and four were received. The project will basically involve running a 12-inch line from Walnut all the way to the end of Old 35. It will be 6,245 linear feet, or a little over a mile.
5T’s bid was for $452,812. It is the same company that completed the Highline/Lifevine drainage project.
Brown said that Public Works Director Hec Long and the public works department have done a good job planning for this project, having already bought some of the materials.
“5T does a good job and works well with the city,” Brown added.
Council approved additions and amendments to the police department’s policies and procedures manual, a 700-page document.
In other police department activity, Chief Matt Parrish and Lieutenant David Mitchell presented the department’s 2024 Racial Profiling Report in accordance with Article 2.134(b) of the Texas Criminal Code of Procedure.
Having reviewed the city’s investment policy at the January meeting, Council approved amending the policy, doing away with some verbiage, making it more diversified and changing it to a two-year maturity across the board.
City Manager Bill S. Wiggins reported that the city pays about $1,200 per month per employee for their health insurance and that it costs the employee about $1,300 hundred to include their spouse and about $800 for their children. There are 82 full-time and two part-time employees.
“We don’t have a lot of claims, but I think it’s way past time for us to look at this,” Wiggins said. He added that the city did requests for proposals and received three – from Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare and Texas Municipal League and that Brinson Benefits is reviewing the proposals now.
“We should be able to get much better insurance coverage for our employees at a much better price,” he said, adding that these proposals will give the employees various options. Council approved authorizing Wiggins to negotiate the contract.
During his monthly update on projects and events, Wiggins reported that the city’s annual employee appreciation is slated for 5:30 p.m. Feb. 20 at the public works building. He also reported that Livingston Fire School is slated for Feb. 21-22 at the fire training field, with the opening ceremony at 8 a.m. on Feb. 22. Livingston Trade Days will be held March 15-16 at Pedigo Park.
Council entered into an executive session to consult with the city attorney and deliberate personnel but took no action upon return to open session.
Other business included approval of the minutes of the Jan. 14 meeting and accounts over $500.
