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Minutes for the Public Works Committee meeting on February 16, 2006.
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Public Works Committee Minutes
Thursday, February 16, 2006
3:00 p.m.
Members present: Darrel Dover, Cecil Province, Jimmy Ashley, and John Street. Councilman Farmer arrived at 3:16 p.m. Councilman Moore was unable to attend.
STREETS
Part-time employee transition to full-time: Ms. Myra Story, Street Department, explained they would like to move five of their part-time employees to full-time status with benefits. She added that they would keep some workers at part-time status since they are only used four or five months out of the year. She further explained that after benefits, they would still be under their budgeted salaries amount to convert the employees. Mr. Royce Leonard also stated he would like to move his six part-time workers to full-time status with benefits. It was questioned whether the Finance committee would need to approve the change in salaries. Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Province, to recommend to the Finance Committee the conversion of five part-time Street Department workers and six part-time Sanitation Department workers to full-time status. All voted aye.
Contract labor for traffic signal maintenance: It was explained the Street Department would like to contract the signal maintenance work out to Mr. Tom Lloyd at the rate of $35 an hour. The work would be contracted to Mr. Lloyd when the regular signal maintenance staff is out of town for training for one week in June and one week in July, then as needed. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Ashley, to recommend the resolution contracting traffic signal maintenance to Mr. Lloyd to the Council at their February 21st meeting. All voted aye.
Excavator to be rebid with zero turn specifications: It was explained the excavator would be re-bid with zero turn specifications. The bids should be in the paper this weekend. PENDING
DRAINAGE
Bennett project: Four bids for the Bennett project were received, with Northeast Arkansas Contractors, Inc. being the low bidder. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Ashley to contract with Northeast Arkansas Contractors and place the resolution on the agenda for the City Council meeting on February 21st. All voted aye. PENDING
Sidewalks and curb cuts bids: Three bids were received for the sidewalks and curb cuts. Mr. Steve Kent, Purchasing Agent, informed the committee that initially the lowest bidder was Van Horn. But, after reviewing the bids, an error in the project total was found with the Van Horn bid. Van Horn was off by $3,000 in the total, which no longer made Van Horn the lowest bidder. After the totals were added correctly, Cameron Construction was the lowest bidder. But, Mr. Kent pointed out a clause in the bid that stated if the City found an error in the City’s favor, the City could accept the bid with the error. Mr. Kent added that Van Horn was willing to do the project for the project price on the bid, with the $3,000 error. Discussion was held as to whether the committee wanted to accept the bid with Van Horn or go with Cameron. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Farmer, to accept the bid from Cameron Construction for the sidewalk and curb cuts. All voted aye. PENDING
Mr. Jeremy Bevill questioned whether the committee had seen the new sidewalk on Huntington and Main. He asked if the committee would like him to proceed with redoing the rest of the sidewalks. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Province, to redo the rest of the sidewalks. All voted aye. PENDING
Questions were raised concerning the crosswalks in front of the driveways on Main Street. Mr. Bevill noted that seven out of ten of the crosswalks that go across driveways did not meet A.D.A. specifications. He added the project could be added to the Cooper Construction contract. He further stated he has discussed the crosswalks with Cooper and they’re willing to add the project to the contract. Discussion was held regarding who built the sidewalks and why they were approved even though they didn’t meet A.D.A. specifications. It was asked for Mr. Brian Wadley to check on who was responsible for the sidewalks. PENDING
SANITATION
Automated trucks bids: Mr. Leonard recommended the River City #3 bid, even though it was not the lowest bid. He explained the engines that are in the trucks bid in River City #2 have had problems in the past. He added the bid is still subject to legal approval. He further noted there was a buy back option after 24 months for $120,000 each. Discussion was then held regarding appropriating the money for the second year of the lease since it’s a two-year lease agreement. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Ashley, to accept the River City #3 bid for the trucks and to place the resolution on the agenda for the Council meeting on February 21st, pending legal approval. All voted aye.
Knuckle-boom truck bid: Mr. Leonard explained he received the bids for the trucks and they came in over the budgeted amount. He stated they may need to either re-bid the trucks or not purchase them at all. Discussion was held as to whether the City would need to purchase the trucks. It was added that Mr. Leonard had extra money in his budget fro the trucks and could make a line item adjustment to allow for the purchase of the knuckle-boom trucks. Mr. Leonard recommended the bid from Barloworld, who was the low bidder. Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Ashley, to recommend to the Finance committee to allow for the line item adjustment to accommodate the purchase of the knuckle-boom trucks from Barloworld. All voted aye.
Container bid: Mr. Leonard recommended Schaefer Systems, who was the low bidder meeting specifications. Councilman Dover moved, seconded by Councilman Farmer, to accept the bid from Schaefer Systems for the containers and to place the resolution on the agenda for the City Council meeting on February 21st. All voted aye.
Tipping fees for apartments, trailer parks, rent houses and houses: Mr. Leonard explained he received an e-mail recently from the Solid Waste Authority asking whether or not the City was still going to pay for the residential tipping fees. Discussion was held regarding the tipping fees and the money the City is saving by not having to do the work itself. It was decided to continue paying the tipping fees. It was also asked for Mr. Leonard to provide the committee with some information in two or three months regarding how much the City is paying in tipping fees and how much the City is saving by not taking care of the landfill itself. PENDING
MAYOR’S OFFICE
Acquisition of residential property on Valley Drive: Mr. Wadley discussed the properties located at 732 and 734 Valley Drive. He stated the appraisal for 734 Valley Drive was $87,000, but the City could justify spending approximately $95,000 on the property. Mr. Hensley, son of the property owner, said that he was counter-offering with $110,000 so he could find his mother a comparable house to live in and cover the cost of moving. Attorney Ralph Ohm had advised that the City could pay above appraisal for justifiable expenses only, such as moving costs or a closing agent, and the costs had to be documented. It was recommended to Mr. Hensley that he receive another appraisal.
Mr. Wadley then stated the appraisal for 732 Valley Drive $93,000. Mr. Dennis Miller, the property owner, counter-offered with $128,000 due to costly improvements he made to the home. PENDING
OTHER
Questions were raised about the secretary position for the Planning Department. Councilman Dover motioned, seconded by Councilman Ashley, to recommend to Finance to add the secretarial position for the Planning Department. All voted aye. It was added that more staff might be needed in 2007 for the Public Works Department due to the impending work for the Storm-water Phase II project.
Questions were also raised concerning the status of the Kitchens Street studies. Mr. Martin stated his recommendation would be to follow the recommendations of the two studies. It was asked if he could bring more information to the next Public Works meeting. PENDING
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business, Councilman Ashley moved, seconded by Councilman Dover, to adjourn. All voted aye.