By Shannon McFarlin WENK/WTPR News Director
Paris, Tenn.—At a special meeting Thursday morning, the Paris Board of Public Utilities (BPU) accepted the low bid for renovations of the downtown headquarters from Allen Searcy Builders of Union City.
Searcy’s bid was $631,000 for the project, which will begin May 23 and be completed by November. The project, as has been discussed in detail at prior meetings, will improve customer service and increase security for employees at the BPU’s downtown office on W. Washington Street.
Searcy’s bid was one of four received for the project. The other three were: $678,265 from MTS Construction in Lexington; $681,104 from Barger Construction in Yuma; and $779,000 from MSB Construction in Jackson.
BPU General Manager Terry Wimberley noted that Searcy Builders is available to begin work immediately and that the company intends to use local subcontractors “which is desirable to us”.
Wimberley reiterated that the low bid was higher than anticipated and that staff has worked over the last 10 days to reduce it. He noted designs had been added, such as fire marshal’s requirements, and that steel and lumber prices have jumped considerably just since February.
Given all that, he said, “We find the bid reasonable. There really weren’t that many places for cost savings.”
Wimberley said downtown merchants have voiced their support for the project, noting the confidence it shows from BPU in downtown.
Photo by Shannon McFarlin
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