Brookhaven aldermen Tuesday voted to seek new bids on aWhitworth Fire Loop project after a single bid came in higher thanestimated.

“We need to get more than one bid. That’s the bottom line,” saidWard 2 Alderman Terry Bates during a discussion at last night’sboard meeting.

Engineer Derrick Tucker said Greenbriar Digging Servicesubmitted a $951,000 bid to install larger lines to service thecampus that will house the Mississippi School of the Arts. Tuckersaid another contractor indicated interest but did not submit abid.

The original project estimate of $602,000, made a few years ago,was “quite a bit lower” than the bid, Tucker said. The youngengineer attributed the difference to inexperience and some projectmodifications made since the estimate.

To fund the work, the city has received a $462,000 federal grantspecifically for the fire loop project. The city has also receiveda $1 million federal appropriation for Whitworth-related campusimprovements and storm water activities.

After accounting for projects already funded with the $1 millionappropriation, Tucker said the city would need about $251,000 forthe fire loop project with the current bid.

After speaking with City Auditor Verbalee Watts, though, CityClerk Iris Rudman said it was unclear whether officials could usepart of the $1 million on the fire loop project. One reasonmentioned was the fire loop was a water project while the federalfunds were for storm water work.

“They’re not sure we can back into the $1 million,” Rudman saidfollowing her discussion with Watts and her associates.

City officials were looking into that situation.

Options to address the situation include a special bond issue toraise the needed money or rebid, Tucker said. Aldermen chose thelatter.

Tucker suggested advertising for new bids locally and in theJackson newspaper. He added that some contractors did not see thefirst bid advertisement.

“We don’t know what we could save or can save,” said Ward 1Aldermen Dorsey Cameron.

Earlier in the discussion, Ward 4 Alderman Bob Massengillquestioned if there was anything in the project, which includeswork on Cherokee Street, Monticello Street, West Congress andothers, that was unnecessary. Tucker said no.

“In my engineering opinion, these are things you need to do,”Tucker said.

Mentioning water lines on West Congress Street, Tucker said theyare old and brittle and the work would upgrade the lines that willbe needed to supply water to the campus.

“It’s more than likely going to fail when it’s stressed,” Tuckersaid.

The engineer also mentioned a lack of enough valves to controlwater flow during a break. He also cited potential higher costs inthe future.

“If you don’t start changing out your infrastructure, it’s goingto cost more and more,” Tucker said.

Aldermen unanimously voted to re-advertise for bids on the fireloop project. Tucker said that process would take about amonth.