In order to annex land into Ferguson, the boundaries of the city must be clear, and on Monday night the city took the next step to making sure that’s the case.

After running an ad for bids to survey the city limits, the city received bids from three local companies and chose Precision Technical Solutions to do the job at Monday’s meeting of the Ferguson City Council.

In addition to Precision, Mayor Allen Dobbs told the council members that other bids came from Davis Engineering and AGT.

Davis Engineering gave two bids, one for $45,000 and the other for $17,500. Precision Technical Solutions’ bid was for $18,520 and AGT’s bid was for a cost of $45,000 with a down payment of $10,000.

Davis’ first proposal was for a complete survey of the entire boundaries, while the second was to simply locate some of the corners of the city limits but not every single detail — the firm would survey it all, but there would only be markers placed only in some locations.

Tim Woodcock of Precision said his proposal was to do a complete survey of the boundaries and mark them all with aluminum markers that read “City of Ferguson.”

A representative of AGT was not present at the council meeting.

Councilor Tony Deprato suggested the council look into the bids until the next meeting.

“They all got a packet of the same information,” said Dobbs. “Everybody knew exactly what the city needed.

“I feel the information was very clear on what we needed,” added Dobbs.

Councilor Sue Poynter said she believed they needed to move forward with the plans to have the city surveyed and not wait any longer.

Woodcock said he would look at all of the ordinances and all old records, along with surveying the area.

Councilor Linda Hughes made a motion for Precision Technical Solutions to survey, while Deprato seconded the motion and all council members approved.

Deprato explained following the meeting that before any city can annex, it has to have its boundaries established with the State of Kentucky. Because of this, the City of Ferguson is updating all of its records with the state.

Deprato noted that throughout the years, as some information changed, it wasn’t recorded in Frankfort.

“This is required before we can annex, according to our attorney and Frankfort,” said Deprato.

The councilor suggested the survey of the city should be complete in 190 days and then the city can move ahead with its plans to try and annex land. He said city officials are planning to annex in three phases, going south, east and west.

“We’re just basically trying to keep Ferguson alive and increase the tax base and bring in some businesses,” said Deprato, who invited anyone who has concerns about the city to attend a future city council meeting.

To end Monday’s meeting, Wendall Ford, a representative of the concerned citizens group in Ferguson, said they appreciated the service of the council members over the last two years.

“This is an awesome responsibility when you look at it,” said Ford, adding that they also appreciate the Mayor and his service to the city.

“I feel like the council has really worked hard for the city of Ferguson,” said Dobbs. “A mayor is only as strong as the council who works with him.”

In other business:

• The council approved running an advertisement to get bids for snow removal in the city this winter.

• A ceremony to swear in the members of the Ferguson City Council for the next two-year term will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 22, at Ferguson City Park, with District Judge Katie Wood swearing in the council.

• Police Chief David Moss said he had been working with Attorney Heidi Powers and Code Enforcement Officer Dennis Crist to contact anyone who is in violation of an ordinance and let them know. Offenders are being given until the first of the year to correct the violation. Moss said they are prioritizing the violations of the ordinances, and then after the first of the year are going to move in a new direction to correct the problem.

Absent from the meeting was councilor Wanda Hunt.