By Katie Northcott, News Director
NOTE: This post has been updated to include a picture of the resolution passed by the BOMA and a statement from City Attorney Craig Johnson.
At the Manchester Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) meeting on Tuesday, March 3, Alderman Julie Anderson raised questions about a consulting contract granted to St. John Engineering.
The BOMA discussed a consulting contract to oversee the installation of a water tower at the Industrial Park. The project will utilize grants from the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation and the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC).
“ARC is putting in $1 million. Theres a fast-track infrastructure development program that’s put in $1.3 million, and then there’s an ag track grant program that’s putting in $875,000, and the city’s part of that is $325,000,” Mayor Joey Hobbs said.
Anderson previously served as the BOMA’s liaison to the Water and Sewer Commission. She said that she remembered discussing granting the contract to J.R. Wauford & Company, an engineering consulting firm that Anderson said specialized in water and sewer. She asked if the city had notified that firm that the contract was up for bid.
“We don’t reach out to them, no. We advertise in the paper, and these are actually quite old,” Hobbs said in response.
Hobbs said St. John Engineering was the only firm to submit a bid for the consulting contract.
The contract with St. John Engineering were approved 5-1 with Anderson casting the lone opposing vote.
Sarah Bradley, a Coffee County resident, reached out to the BOMA prior to the meeting with concerns that the city had misapplied Tennessee Code Annotated 12-3-103 to argue that the consulting contract did not have to follow state competitive procurement standards.
Section (a) of TCA 12-3-103 says that “contracts for legal services, fiscal agent, financial advisor or advisory services, educational consultant services, and similar services” shall not be based on competitive procurement standards. Bradley said the consulting contract did not fall under the categories specified.
Bradley also argued that the Code of Federal Regulations specifies that “all procurement transactions under the Federal award must be conducted in a manner that provides full and open competition” unless the city received direct authorization from ARC for non-competitive procurement.
City Attorney Craig Johnson replied to Peterson Media Group’s request for comment with the following statement:
“Regarding the Water Tower Engineer Tower project, Ms. Bradley was again misinformed as to the law, the process timeline, and the prior work and permissions received to move forward with the project. From my review of the facts, State and Federal law were followed, as well as the Manchester Municipal Code. The previous competitive procurement approval paperwork was provided at the meeting, which occurred back when these grants were approved. State and Federal law were complied with, as Engineers are professional services and their competitive procurement process is governed by TCA 12-4-107, which as always, was utilized.
“For some strange reason, Ms. Bradley cited portions of another law, which only apply to Financial Advisors and the like.”
In response to a follow up email from Peterson Media Group, Johnson later clarified that one section of TCA 12-3-103 did apply to the consulting contract. He said the sections Bradley highlighted did not apply.
Hobbs replied to Peterson Media Group’s request for comment with documentation of his efforts on March 4, 2025, to contact five engineering firms about the ARC grant project, including Wauford.
“Thanks for reaching out to get the real facts. Maybe even get a quote from Alderman Anderson since she asked all of Mrs. Bradely’s questions at the BOMA meeting for her, this was during alderman Anderson’s her time on the Water/Sewer commission,” Hobbs’ email read.
The documentation provided by Hobbs is available for download below.
