Quitman City Council members approved a bid from a Tyler construction company for a 12-inch water line construction project for the Quitman water system from Lake Fork. 

There were four bids on the project. 7-H Construction Company got the approved bid for $874,900. The other bids were from Joe Funk Construction of Dallas, $1,635,582; Capps-Capco Construction, Tyler, $1,000,546; and RBIS, Texarkana, $1,046,821. The water line runs along Highway 154 and ties in at FM 182.

The council approved a request from the Quitman Development Corporation for a $10,000 sponsorship of the Bass Master Elite Series event to be held at Lake Fork June 5-9. The Quitman EDC will join with other sponsors including Lake Fork Chamber of Commerce, the Emory Economic Development organization, Wood County, the Wood County Economic Development Commission and the Sabine River Authority (SRA). The money from the QDC is budgeted.   

QDC Executive Director Denea Hudman reported the building at 107 Lipscomb has been sold to Wayne Carroll who has already started soliciting new vendors and is making plans for the property at 109 Lipscomb where he will be working with Jamie Wyatt. 

Dr. Joanne Wisdom gave the council a report from the new Wood County Economic Development Commission (WCEDC). She also reported on the Bass Master Elite Series.

“The SRA is handling all the infrastructure details and the event hosts will be responsible for organizing the festival for Saturday,” Wisdom said. “Also, that Saturday will be the Kid+Fish and that event will be combined with tournament events on the SRA property.”

In another matter the council casts all 544 of their votes for Dr. John Johnson to be on the Wood County Appraisal District Board of Directors. 

Mayor Dunn also recognized and congratulated Leo “Mitch” Walls who celebrated 35 years of employment with the City of Quitman as of Nov. 2.