McComb officials hired an engineer to design plans for projects related to the $3.1 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds the city is receiving, but a selectman took issue with the decision, saying no projects had been discussed.
The vote to hire Neel-Schaffer was 4-1 with selectmen Ted Tullos, Michael Cameron, Shawn Williams and Ronnie Brock in support and Devante Johnson opposed. Selectman Donovan Hill was absent.
Robert Avery of GJA Consulting of Gadsden, Ala., has been working with the city to determine how the $3.1 million will be spent.
“We’ve got to determine how we’re going to spend this money and what type of projects,” Mayor Quordiniah Lockley said. “So, if we come up with a project and we need engineering services, we’ve already got an engineer on board.”
Lockley said a committee of himself, City Administrator David Myers and Tullos met to discuss hiring an engineer and Neel-Schaffer was the only company to submit a proposal.
Johnson raised questions after Lockley mentioned a committee.
“I’m a little lost here. When was a committee appointed?” Johnson said.
Lockley said the board instructed him to put together a committee at a previous meeting. Johnson said he has not missed a meeting, did not remember a conversation about a committee and asked to see previous minutes.
“I’m not disputing,” Johnson said. “I just don’t remember us (appointing a committee). I’d just like to see it.”
The board skipped the matter until previous minutes about hiring an engineer could be found from the Feb. 8 meeting.
Neel-Schaffer’s Garrett Smith said the city twice advertised for an engineer. Even though the matter was discussed, he said a committee was not appointed during a meeting.
“I don’t believe it’s been voted on for a committee, but that’s just a standard thing to put together a committee,” he said. “I don’t believe that’s something that has to be voted on. If the board wants to do that, I’m sure you could.”
“My only concern here is there’s a recommendation from a committee that’s on the agenda I knew nothing about,” Johnson said. “This board hasn’t approved any projects as of yet for a committee to even come up with.”
Johnson recommended tabling the matter, and Lockley maintained that an engineering service was needed.
Myers confirmed that no ARPA projects have been determined.
“We had to put an engineering firm on board before this board voted on any projects,” he said.
Cameron agreed.
“The committee has nothing to do with projects. It has to do with the engineering firm to come before projects come,” he said.
Shawn Williams and Brock suggested changing the language of the motion to reflect that no projects have been determined.
Brock said the motion should approve hiring “Neel-Schaffer for engineering services related to the American Rescue Plan Act” without the word projects.
While the board approved the motion with Brock’s suggestion, Johnson still opposed.
