Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / Aug. 23, 1977, edition 1 / Page 11
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a I X 3g V 1 Football Contest t Beginning In next Tueeday’a Mirror-Herald our readers will have an opportunity to compete for a first prize of $B0 and a second prize of $26 In the 1977 Football Contest. Read and follow the simple rules In next Tuesday’s edition. TTie contest will run for 10 weeks ai^d $76 will be awarded each week.^ j Tell It To Doug 1 "On The Square,” a WBTV news feature hosted by Doug Mayes, will be filmed in downtown Kings Mountain next Tuee., Aug. 80 at noon. Mayes and a special news film crew will be here soliciting opinions on anything of current Interest to KMers. Tlie Interviews will be colorcsurt on channel three. '-'•I THE THURSDAY EDITION KIMGS MOUMTtMM VOL. 88 NO. 68 THURSDAY, AUGUST 26, 1977 MIRROR-HCRhLD 15' Brittain Allowed To Withdraw Board Accepts Second Low Bid On City Hall a DISCUSS BID FIGURES — Mayor John Moss, architect Moodye Clary and members of the board of commissioners took a recess to discuss the merits of accepting second low bid on the new city hall construction. By TOM MCINTYRE Editor, Mirror-Herald Following legal formalities the city commissioners voted to award contracts on the Governmental Services Facili ties Building to four low bidders McHiday night. Itien the board allowed the low general construction bidder to withdraw his bid due to an error In the bid figures. Another vote was taken later to award the general con struction bid to the second low bidder. Later the board, following legal procedure, will* meet to decide whether to return the first low bidder his five percent bid bond check. Construction bids were awarded to Cecil’s, Inc. of Spartanburg, S. C. for general construction at $660,000; to Southern Comfort of Charlotte for mechanical at $188,300; to Hoyle Plumbing Co. of Shelby tor plumbing at $67,700^ and to Caldwell Electric of Newton tor electrical at $98,796. Itie low bids place the project construction total at $1,012,789. With architectural fees, land scaping and site preparation fees, the total Is $1,040,070 - $40, 810 above the Economic Development Agency grant of $909,260. When asked where the overage was coming from. Mayor J. H. Moss said, "We have been successful at finding grant money to fund projects In the past. I'm sure there Is something tor the city In this line.” The second low bidder was accepted by the board following a 16-mlnute open recess In which the maycr, commissioners and architect Moodye Clary discussed the figures. Brittain Construction of Spartanburg, 8. C. was the original low bidder on general contract with $606,686. Under N. C. GS 148-129.1 a bidder may withdraw his bid within 72 hours If he finds an honest mistake has been made In the figures, ac cording to City Attorney Gcmrge Thomasson. BUI Brittain, chairman of the board of Brittain Construction, attended Monday’s meeting to officially tell the board he wanted to withdraw his bid and why. "I’ve been In this business 28 years and this Is first time this has ever happened to me,” Brittain said. "It’s very em barrassing to me to ha ve to suik to have my bid withdrawn." The letter from Brittain Construction reouestlna the bid be withdrawn came In, last Friday signed by BIU E. Lock- wood, company president. In the letter Lockwood explained that when the bid figures were tabulated the price of structural steel was omitted. The amount of money omitted was $73,600. Brittain said he had bid low many ttmes eind made money, “but If I am forced to honor this bid I won’t have a Chinaman’s chance of winning. This wouldn’t break my company, but It would bend It. Gentlemen, I’d reaUy rather not have to buUd this buUdlng.” Mayor Moss asked If he or Mr. Lockwood was the official spokesman for the company and Brittain said, "Mr. Lockwood resigned this morning. I hold the majority of stock, so I guess I could caU a board meeting and have myself elected president If you want me to.” Following the recess and discussion. Commissioner Jim ChUders told Brittain, "We don’t want to see you or anyone lose money on this job,” then moved that the Brittain bid be rejected. The motion was approved unanimously. Brittain wUl be noUfled later as to the board’s decision on whether to return his five per cent bid bond. TTie check totaled $80,294.80. The board members polled said they are foUowlng the legal procedure and that Brittain’s bid bond would be returned to his company. No decision was reached as to when actual construction would begin on the new city hall, but last Tliursday architect Moodye Clary said It Is possible to be^ within 30 days. Rent Program Response Small By GARY S’TEWART Steff Writer Tuesday night’s public meeting to discuss the Housing Assistance Payments Program (HAPP) drew little response from Kings Mountain tenants and landlords. Earl Honeycutt, Delores Dedmon and Glenn I^des of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission were on hand to e>q>laln how tenants may receive help In paying their rent and utilities, and how land lords may benefit from the federal program, but only a handful of landlords and no tenants attended. The program, which according to Honeycutt "Is too good to be true,” has grown rapidly In North Carolina with an estimated 76 counties now taking part. Under this program. ■|f Honeycutt said, landlords and tenants would sign contracts of one, three or five years, spelling out what Is expected of both. What help (money-wise) given the tensuit would be paid each month directly to the landlord. "It will allow the landlord to better anticipate his rent,” said Honeycutt, “and will allow him to better maintain his property. We hope to encourage the Ismdlord to make minor Im provements and reward him with more rent dollars.” As for the tenant, Honeycutt said the program will enable him to "pay his rent and utility bills and free money to help him have more food on his table and better clothes on his back.” When a tenant and landlord 1 agree to enter the program, Honeycutt said, homes are In- No Conrnmsioner FUers Recorded Durmff First Week i spected by his office and Im provements made. If needed. That’s the only “catch.” "The landlord has the same rights as always,” he said. "It’s still his obligation to collect the roit and maintain the house. But he knows he will get a check from Raleigh each month tor part of the rent.” Honeycutt said he feels the program "tends to make the tenant more conconsclousness” about his responsibility cf paying his rent on time and doing his part to maintain the home. "A vlolatlan on die tenant’s part,” said Honeycutt, "severs his participation In this program. I think he will be a better a citizen than he’s previously been.” Honeycutt ssdd one thing that (Turn To Page 2A) ir.!'- Photo By Gary Stewart PRESIDES AT MEETING - Earl Honeycutt of ttMlby, coordinator of Isothermal Planning and Development’s Section 8 Rent Supplement program, explains the program to audience at dty hall Tuesday night. small Apparently Kings Mountain Is fresh out of city commissioner candidates, or maybe they are waiting to see who tosses his hat Into the ring first. At presstime Wednesday no- commlHloner candidates had paid the $6 fee to seek office. Candidate filing began last Friday at noon and runs until noon Frl., Sept. 9. Registration for the October 11 city election closes September 12. The books cloae to voter tor the runoff election on November 8 on Oc tober 10. Commissioner seats In district two, five and six are offered this year. Humes Houston, William R. Grissom and Fred Wright Jr. now hold the three seats. Candidates can pay their fee and file with Mra. Betty Mercler at 902 Monroe Ave. Call 789-2192. im f BAD BID — Bill Briliaui, chairman of the board of Brittain Construction of Spartanburg, S. C., came to Monday’s meeting to ask to have his bid withdrawn. Billings Resigns Tomorrow Kings Mountain will be without a director of busi ness development. Larry D. Billings has resigned. Billings was hired four months ago to handle the office of busi ness development, a newly created post salaried from Community Development funds to bring new retail emd wholesale business In the city. In a letter of resignation to the mayor and commissioners Billings said, ’’. . .1 have been offered a very excellent op portunity with Carolina-Western ’Trucking Co. ... It has potential of a very gratifying and secure future. . . .” Billings will serve Carolina- Western as personnel director and will offer him a chance to learn the trucking business from the ground up. Carolina-Western Trucking offices are located on Hwy. 161. Billings, who Is completing construction on a new home here, said he plans to renudn a resident of Kings Mountain. "I have enjoyed working tor the City of Kings Mountain and dealing with Its citizens,’’ Billings said. "I could not ask tor the citizens to have accepted me with any more friendliness and cordiality than If I had been a native.” Billings said he feels Kings Mountain has the potential of being one of the best places to live In North Carolina If It con tinues along Its present path. He said he plans to be an active citizen In the local business com munity as well as doing as much as he can to offer his public service to the city. "There are many potential new business ventures hanging in the wings for Kings Moun tain.” Billings said. "I hope the city will fill the position of busi ness development director as quickly as possible to take ad vantage of this potential.”
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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Aug. 23, 1977, edition 1
11
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