City to negotiate with contractors

The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday rejected the bids received for work to be done for a new restaurant and upgraded theater in downtown Andalusia.

Earlier this year, the city council approved lease contracts with Big Mike’s Restaurant Andalusia, LLC, and Clark Theatres, Inc. The agreements call for the city to renovate the space to be occupied by the two.

The agreement says the city will renovate the first floor of the Andala building at an expense not to exceed $500,000. But Mayor Earl Johnson said the city received only one bid for the project.

“In my opinion, it was excessive,” Johnson said. “I would ask you to reject the bid and authorize us to negotiate with that contractor or whomever can come up with a better price.”

City attorney Mark Christensen explained that a municipality can negotiate if it receives only one bid.

Gaillard Builders of Chickasaw submitted the only bid.

In the case of the Clark Theater, Johnson said, there were two bids. The council rejected both and authorized Johnson to negotiate. B and B Construction and Sasser Construction submitted the only bids for the theater.