Abbeville council ratifies $8,244.60 invoice for lift-station repairs; tree-trimming expense to be finalized

The Abbeville City Council ratified payment of an $8,244.60 invoice from Griner Drilling Service for ongoing repairs to the Gallant Seward Lift Station.

Councilwoman Campbell moved the ratification, and Councilwoman Terry seconded. Chris Cottrell (staff member) described the invoice as payment for ongoing repairs at that lift station; the motion passed unanimously on a voice vote.

Separately, the council discussed a routine tree-trimming program for transmission lines and substation circuits that the city performs every few years. Stewart (staff member) said the work is cyclical and that the city did not perform trimming last year, so crews need to be scheduled this year. He said he was still awaiting a firm cost; two years earlier a similar crew and 40-hour work week cost about $12,500.

A council member raised a separate question about piles of wood chips parked behind a property identified as Edward’s; staff said that material was not city property and suggested checking with the property owner or the judge referenced by the speaker to determine its origin.

The council approved the Griner Drilling payment and directed staff to return with a firm estimate for the tree-trimming contract before finalizing that expense.