City delays action on flood debris bids

Published 11:39 am Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Two companies submitted bids Monday to oversee the cleanup of flood debris in Vicksburg, and the Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen decided to table opening them.

“We could open them this afternoon, or we could open them Tuesday or Wednesday,” Mayor Paul Winfield said after the meeting. “We’re not sure yet.”

The bids are from True North Emergency Management of Fort Worth, Texas, and IMS Engineering of Jackson until an unspecified date.

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The board at a June 14 special meeting authorized city clerk Walter Osborne to seek two bids — one for a company to oversee and monitor the cleanup, and another to remove and dispose of the debris.

Winfield said Monday the city delayed seeking bids for the cleanup after meeting Thursday with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials about the agency’s regulations for reimbursing cities and counties for flood cleanup.

He said one FEMA program did not apply to the city’s plans because the work had to be done within 72 hours. He said the city was looking at alternative FEMA reimbursement programs.

He said contractors looking to bid on the flood cleanup must submit their bids by 5 p.m. Wednesday. The bids are expected to be opened at the board’s Friday meeting.