The City of Lincolnton awarded two contracts for sewerage system improvements at its regular meeting held Monday, January 5.

Kenny Green, an engineer with the firm of G. Ben Turnipseed, pointed out that the project is designed to enable the city to provide sewerage service to the new high school, currently under construction on Metasville Road. The upgrades are necessary because the city's infrastructure cannot handle the additional flow.

According to Green, "We will be putting in a gravity sewer line that will run from the new high school to Pump Station 3 at Florence Creek; replacing both Pump Station 3 and Pump Station 4, which is located near Wallace-Wells Circle; and replacing two force mains.

"One of the pump stations and one of the force mains have given the city a great deal of trouble in the past. So in addition to allowing the new school to hook up to the sewer system, these improvements will also make the system much more reliable for the citizens living on the north side of the city."

The total cost of the project is $655,278.86. The initiative will be funded by the following: the Lincoln County Board of Education, $427,727.51; Robert Pollard, $141,426.33; and the city, $86,125. The city will use monies left over from Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) from 2005 and 2007 to fund its share of the project.

The city awarded a $128,009.41 contract to Blair Construction, Inc. of Evans for sewer lines and appurtenances and a $296,569.90 contract to Eagle Utility Contracting, Inc. of Bishop, Georgia for two sewerage pump stations. Both companies were the low bidders.

In other business, the council:

.. Re-appointed Henry Brown as mayor pro tem.

.. Voted to re-appoint Barry Fleming of Fulcher Hagler, LLP as the city attorney.

.. Voted to leave the city's accounts as they are at Farmers State Bank and Farmers & Merchants Bank.

.. Voted to forward a proposal to the Lincoln County Government containing changes made by the city to the Lincolnton-Lincoln County Emergency Management Ordinance. The proposal will put the city on an equal footing with the county in the event of an emergency.

.. Heard a report given by Mayor Dwaine Biggerstaff concerning SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax) revenues.

"Our SPLOST revenues were down for October, and as SPLOST goes, so does LOST (Local Option Sales Tax). Losing $2,000 or $3,000 a month will create a big hole in our budget.

"We're not in terrible financial shape at the present time, but it can deteriorate quickly," the mayor continued. "It is a serious situation. We will do the best we can for the city, and along with cooperation from the county, we will make our way through this. We will help each other try to maintain services at a reasonable cost. We need to pray for our local, state, and federal leaders that we can work through this crisis."

.. Heard Mayor Biggerstaff commend all those involved with decorating the city for Christmas as well as those who organized the Holidays in Olde Lincoln Town celebration.

.. Heard the Water Department Report given by Superintendent Stanley Parton, who indicated that total water production increased in December partly because of the muddy water created by the nearly five inches of rain the city received recently.

"The water was hard to treat," he said. "We had to do more backwashing and basin cleaning than usual."

Total water production climbed from 11.1 mg (million gallons) in November to 11.8 mg in December.

.. Discussed options for dealing with an EPD recommendation that the city have a 3:1 ratio of pump stations to generators, which means that the city needs an additional generator.

.. Agreed to approach the county government to work out an agreement concerning the rates charged to the county for city water.

.. Heard the Zoning Department Report given by Zoning Administrator David Griffin, who indicated that during the month of December, his office issued five building permits for a total of $277, conducted 20 building inspections, and issued five certificates of occupancy.

.. Voted to re-zone land on Drinkard Street from R-1 to R-2 to accommodate a duplex apartment building. The request was made by Cox Brothers Builders.

.. Voted to grant a 60-day extension on the re-zoning of property, owned by Stan and Dee Thompson on the Augusta Highway, which will comprise the Lincoln Square development.

.. Heard the Police Department Report given by Chief Jim Justice, who indicated that his office received 170 calls for service last month and handled incidents involving theft by taking, armed robbery, terroristic threats, fights, and a stolen car.

.. Voted to buy a 1998 Freightliner dump truck for the Street Department for $9,000. The purchase will be funded with monies from the city's alcoholic beverage tax account.

.. Voted to re-appoint Greg Zellars to the Lincoln County Board of Elections and Registration.

.. Voted to enter into executive session to discuss three personnel matters. Upon returning to regular session, the council voted to accept bids to clean out the flower and shrubbery beds in downtown Lincolnton.

The next regular meeting of the mayor and council will be held Monday, February 2, at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall.