Fairfield council approves RFP for north waterline after easement, cites AIB loan for reimbursement

The Fairfield Town Council voted unanimously March 11 to issue a Request for Proposals for a north waterline extension after the mayor reported an easement agreement is ready and the landowner requested no payment. Mayor Hollie McKinney also said the town’s previously discussed AIB loan has been approved and will reimburse expenses tied to the waterline project while staff await final signatures.

The council’s action formalizes procurement for the North Waterline Extension. Mayor McKinney reported that an easement from property owners west of Strong’s property is in hand and that the owner did not request payment, clearing a key obstacle to moving forward.

Councilman Tyler Thomas moved to send out the RFP and Councilman Richard Cameron seconded the motion; the motion passed with all five members voting in favor. The council did not specify an RFP timeline at the meeting; staff will administer the procurement process and return to the council with recommended bids or a selection timeline.

The AIB loan was characterized as reimbursement funding for waterline expenditures; the council did not take formal action on loan paperwork at the meeting and said closeout steps remain.

The council also discussed related utility account adjustments earlier in the meeting as part of broader budget amendments under consideration. A budget meeting was scheduled for March 24 to continue fiscal planning and to set final numbers for the coming fiscal year.