Monterey To Bid Depot Roof Project For Second Time

The Town of Monterey will rebid work on the depot roof for a second time after rejecting new bids at its meeting Monday night.

Mayor Nathan Walker said after bidding the work the second time, three bids came in with a $15,000 difference between the low bid and the high bid. The three bids had three different types of roofing materials.

“We felt that what we were actually looking for was a standing seam roof,” Walker said. “And that bid seemed a little bit higher than the earlier cost estimates that we had. So we wanted to the opportunity to be able to rebid that because our main focus is to save taxpayer money and that was a little exorbitant for what it was.”

Walker said in addition to realizing what type of roof they decided to go with, no local contractors were able to submit bids. He said the more expensive bids were from areas like Mount Juliet. Walker said he estimated some $5,000 to $6,000 in those bids were from travel costs alone.

Walker said they hope to adjust the specs once again to potentially attract local bidders.

In other business, the Mayor and Aldermen were officially sworn in. Alderman Jim Whitaker and Bill Wiggins were re-elected along with newcomer James Wolfgram. Whitaker was elected as the Vice Mayor, but rejected the position. He said he thought it best if Alderman Mark Farley continued to serve in the role.

“I just don’t know that I can be qualified for that,” Whitaker said. “And I really appreciate the voters and I understand that. I’m just not a person with…I just got rid of a flip phone and I just learned how to answer on a regular phone. So I would like to make a motion that we just leave it as it is, with Mark as Vice-Mayor because he’s doing such a great job at it and he’s experience. ”

Farley was unanimously appointed.