The Troy City Council saw something the mayor called “highly unusual” during the opening of bids for the proposed public works facility.

Two companies entered the same base amounts of $1,560,000. If the council had not agreed on approving an alternate bid to include a paint booth for the facility, a contract couldn’t have been awarded at Tuesday night’s city council meeting.

Whaley Construction Company in Troy came in with the lowest total bid at $1,607,000.

The cost for the new facility was budgeted at $1.2 million, but after discussion, the city council felt the difference could be met with funds originally budgeted for the new library, but are no longer needed, coupled with money made by selling the old library building. Until then, the city will dip into its reserve.

“We’ve been working on this thing for months,” said Council President John Witherington during the council’s work session. “It’s time we put it to bed.”

Also at the council meeting, an on/off premise retail beer and table wine license was unanimously approved for Sips on the Square, a new wine bar to be opened at 60 Court Square.

“We are really excited about the possibility and really want to bring something to the city that will be unique and that the community can enjoy,” said Sips owner Lyndsay Taylor.

Another business was denied approval for door-to-door solicitation in the city. Quality Air Systems representatives were told the city’s code doesn’t allow for that sort of business practice in residential areas, but they were welcome to visit businesses.

“I’m sure y’all are real fine folks,” said Councilman Jason Reeves. “And I’m sure you have a real fine company, but we have done our best to keep businesses from being able to initiate a financial transaction at someone’s home.”

Items also approved by the council Tuesday night:

A bid was awarded to Terex Utilities for a $145,354 bucket truck and a $173,001 digger for the city. Those numbers were final after trade-in value

Service term ending dates for two members of the Troy Hospital Healthcare Authority were altered to provide for continuity in the future.

Jason Thomas was appointed to replace Al Jones on the Board of Education.

Resurfacing and traffic signal updates were approved on U.S. Highway 231 running from Walmart to the Pike Pioneer Museum.