Mt. Zion Public Service District met in special session at Arnoldsburg Community Building on Monday at 5 p.m.

Only two members of the PSD board were present, Sharon Postalwait and Shirley Mace. The third board member, Della Nichols, was reported to have resigned over the weekend.

Many citizens were in attendance and looking for answers to why the water extension project to Sand Ridge and Rt. 16 South of Arnoldsburg has been delayed.

The meeting began with engineer Jim Hildreth asking for public comments. Questions were not allowed until later in the meeting.

After comments were made expressing continued concerns over the project, board member Postalwait said, “I don’t know much about engineering, so I feel we need to go with whatever the engineer decides.”

She made a motion to go with the engineer’s recommendation of the second lowest bid from Bruce Allen, Inc. The motion died for lack of a second.

No other reasons for the recommendation were given, nor discussed.

According to Hildreth, the recommendation will be open for public viewing after the contract is awarded--to abide by state code.

Board member Mace said that she felt the board made a motion previously to approve Ronnie Lane and, in good faith, she couldn’t back down.

The meeting was at a standstill because of the lack of a majority.

(Calhoun county commission has published a legal notice this week in the Chronicle seeking a person to serve on the Mt. Zion PSD board. Letter of intent must be submitted to the county clerk’s office by Friday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m.)

Comments were made by numerous citizens, including low bidder Ronald Lane.

“Whatever the board decides, I will abide by their decisions. I know we have had a lot of support in the community on this project. People need the water regardless of the outcome and regardless of what happens. I can tell you Ronald Lane, Inc., will not sue or litigate against Mt. Zion PSD. I know you’re under a lot of pressure and I hope that will relieve some of it,” said Lane.

He also said that he didn’t understand why none of his 11 recommendations had been answered by the engineer.

Bruce Wells of Welding, Inc., said the he would litigate all the way to the Supreme Court because of alleged bid interference.

Emotions were present in most statements and several individuals walked out of the meeting before it adjourned.

When the meeting ended at 6:15 p.m., everyone left without answers to when construction on the project will begin.

Mt. Zion PSD will have to wait for a new member to be appointed by the county commission. The project is at a standstill until then.