Improvements to the city’s wastewater collection systems will soon be under way after city council members approved $194,000 to Crossland Heavy Contractors for the project.
Bid openings were made Jan. 8 for phase 1, which includes improvements to the main station lift pumps. Crossland is based out of Columbus. Improvements made will be subject to approval from KDHE and EPA.
In addition, council members discussed bids that were opened for renovations on high water service pumps on Jan. 8 as well. The original bid made by Fluid Equipment was approximately $90,000. Upon re-opening the bids, City Administrator Carl Slaugh said the bid had been raised to $118,500 — $28,500 above the original amount.
“We haven’t had the case to require the extra pump, and I would prefer not spending $118,000 on the pump,” Slaugh said.
Council member David Toland urged the council to consider including the work with the wastewater collection renovation being done with Crossland Heavy Contractors. Slaugh said there is a provision with Crossland’s agreement to combine the projects under the EPA grant funds.
No decision was made for the pump project, and discussions were tabled until Slaugh could discuss the matter further with the bidders.
In other business:
• An ordinance was passed to keep garbage bins off of residential streets during times that trash is not being picked up by the city. Under the ordinance, residents may only place the bins on the curb the day before pickup, and they must be removed the day after pickup. Bins must be kept behind the front of residences during non-pickup days.
• Council member Jim Kilby has announced that he will not be running for the ward three council seat in 2013. When asked, he said he has changed jobs and no longer has the time for the council duties.
“I hope that some people step up to run,” Kilby said, “It has been rewarding, I’ll probably miss it.”
As of Monday night, Nancy Ford, Scott Stewart, Don Becker, Jerod Kelley and Steve French had all filed for city council positions in the election. No applications have been filed for the mayor position.
• A new bicycle ordinance was officially passed to allow bicycles to be ridden on the sidewalks at any location in the city. Also, bicycle owners are no longer required to register their bicycles with the city, although it is still highly encouraged.
• Coronado’s Mexican Restaurant was approved for its cereal malt beverage license from the city council.
• A purchasing policy committee meeting will be Jan. 28 to discuss current policies and possible changes. Council members have yet to appoint members to the committee.
• An agreement with the economic development advisory board has been approved to allow support of an economic development position with Thrive Allen County. The position will receive $15,000 in funding from the city for the span of one year.
• The 2012 audit contract with Jarred, Gilmore & Phillips was approved for $10,550.
• Payment has been completed for the Prairie Spirit Trail. The city passed a motion to pay Schwab-Eaton engineering firm $19,269.32 in final charges for construction on the trail. Additional funds amounting to $2,569.89 were included in the amount, due to additional days required for inspection of the trail — 80 percent of the amount will be paid by the state, the city will cover $513.98 of the cost.
• Motions were passed to approve a natural gas purchasing resolution with MuniGas, as well as contract approval for the Kansas Department of Transportation to begin construction on U.S. 54, east of Iola.
