 Wastewater treatment plant manager Dave Kitzmiller explained that
the number of bids and wide price range were possibly related to two
factors. The work detail that went out was as a choice: open digging
or directional underground boring. "We didn't really care how it got
done; we just wanted the best bid for the city," Joe Pisula said.
It might also be that there is a lot of competition for that type
of work out there at this time.
Aldermen accepted the lowest bid, from Denton Gunther Underground
Inc.
Joe Pisula of Donohue and Associates, the design engineers for
the wastewater treatment plant upgrade, oversaw this bid process,
and the most recent lift station work.
*
Three bids were received on an F-150
pickup truck. The truck is for general use at the wastewater
treatment plant.
-
Graue Inc. bid
$21,940.
-
Lincoln Chrysler
Dodge Jeep bid $22,181.
-
Xamis Ford Mercury
bid $26,635.
Chairman Marty Neitzel said that it was decided to reject all
three bids. The low bid from Graue would have been considered, but
the documentation was not submitted properly, so they were unable to
accept the bid. The next lowest bid was $2,950 higher than the state
bid of $19,222.
Therefore the council accepted the low bid from the state.
*
The council approved hiring three new officers to replace three
retiring officers. The retiring officers will all be off the payroll
on Jan. 15. The new officers begin on Feb. 14.
*
Aldermen agreed that the city would acquire three new vehicles
for the police department through the lease purchase process. Police
Chief Stuart Erlenbush said that he would like one vehicle to be a
Crown Victoria at $23,300, a second vehicle to be a four-wheel drive
vehicle that he said would be in the range of $27,000, and a third
vehicle would serve as an unmarked car and would cost less than
$23,300. He has worked with city attorney Bill Bates on the
three-year lease acquisition.
*
[to top of second column] |
The fire department is facing $17,000 in unanticipated needs for
repair, replacement and maintenance expenses. For this line item,
$492 is left in the fiscal year budget. Chairman Melody Anderson
said that the costs could be covered by moving some line items.
A total of $15,000 was set in appropriations. Melanie Riggs
pointed out that you cannot move line items above the amount of the
appropriations.
About $2,000 is needed for various maintenance expenses,
including tires, solenoid and switches.
A 1994 truck has a water tank with a leak that has become
excessive. Equipment is getting wet inside, some compartments are
getting mold, and rust is forming in other areas, according to Tom
Martin, assistant fire chief. Alderman Dave Armbrust said, "I've
followed your truck down the street a time or two, and there's no
question you need a new tank."
A new tank has been ordered. The tank is $10,000 and labor is
$5,000. Martin said that he spoke to the man who would be doing the
work, and the labor is high because the truck has to be taken apart
to install the tank.
A total of $18,539 remains unspent in the fire chief pay. The
department is without a chief, and it would be close to the next
fiscal year before the process of hiring a new chief could be
completed. The amount of $12,000 will be taken from that line.
There's $13,493 left for schools and training, and $5,000 would
be transferred from this line.
[By JAN YOUNGQUIST]
 |
