The Pine Bluff City Council held a special called meeting Friday to waive competitive bidding and allow electrical repairs to be made at City Hall.
The meeting, held via Zoom after a special called Ways and Means meeting that was held earlier in the day to consider the same issue, concerned the need for a new electrical feeder.
According to Mayor Shirley Washington, after the snowstorm last month, Pine Bluff City Hall was not receiving electrical power. Power was temporarily restored by Evers Electrical Co., but the company told Washington that the repair was incomplete and could fail at any time.
Washington said it has been difficult to find electricians who are available to evaluate and repair the electrical issue in a timely manner.
According to Entergy Arkansas, Evers Electric Co., and the city's maintenance director, immediate action is needed.
If more thorough repairs are not made, the city's operations could be interrupted as the electrical feeder runs from City Hall to the Pine Bluff Police Department. A loss of mechanical functions, as well as digital information, also could be lost if repairs are not made.
The City Council voted unanimously to waive competitive bidding to employ Evers Electric Co. to install a new electric feeder.