The Webster City Police Department got the green light Monday to purchase two 2024 Ford Police Interceptor Utilities from Stiver’s Ford Lincoln of Waukee for $123,957.62.
Police Chief Shiloh Mork told the City Council of Webster City Monday that his department was seeking to replace “more problematic vehicles,” one of which was sidelined over the weekend.
He said the department would trade in two Tahoes in the purchase process.
The council approved the purchase.
It also approved multiple expenditures for ongoing projects.
1. A $324,119 bid from Trachte, LLC, of Oregon, Wisconsin, was accepted to furnish a control enclosure for the Reisner Substation.
2. Brink Constructors, Inc., of Rapid City, South Dakota, was awarded the contract for the construction of the Reisner Substation. Brink’s bid was $2,011,346.54.
3. The contract for a 69 kV Transmission Line Reconstruction was awarded to Watts
Electric Company of Waverly, Nebraska. Watts’ bid was $1,944,606.51.
4. WESCO Distribution, of Des Moines, was awarded the contract for furnishing transmission line materials — engineered laminated wood poles — for Webster City Municipal Utilties with its bid of $1,261,618.
5. RESCO — Rural Electric Supply Cooperative — was awarded the contract for major materials for the Phase 1 Electric Distribution Improvements. RESCO’S bid was $278,420; it submitted an alternative bid of $282,070.
The council passed the first reading to amend the city’s Code of Ordinances to strengthen the city’s enforcement power when dealing with the condition of some properties.
The council took no action when it came to accepting a $48,814 bid from Mid Iowa Site Services, Fort Dodge, for the demolition of a property at 614 First Street.
Councilman Logan Welch noted that the competing bid from Jones Rock & Dirt, Webster City, for $49,000 might be preferable because it is a local business.
That consideration launched a broader conversation about the benefit of attempting to rehabilitate the structure versus tearing it down and removing it from the tax roll.
In the end, the council decided to take up to 60 days to make certain it wanted to spend nearly $50,000 to tear the property down.
The wood chip pile at the Street Department Tree Site, 100 East Ohio Street, returned to discussion. A year ago, it combusted and resulted in the city closing the tree site to commercial users.
The city canceled the purchase of a nearly half-million-dollar burner that was intended to incinerate the wood at the site; now the pile is growing and the city is looking for someone to grind and/or haul away the resulting material.
“Over the years staff has seen an uptick in material causing yearly tree grinding expenses to reach over $30,000,” the council packet material states. “This service does not get rid of the material it only grinds it into smaller wood chips leaving the city with years and years’ worth of material. After our smoldering wood chip issue last fall, we were informed by the DNR (Iowa Department of Natural Resources) that we are accepting way too much material compared to how much is leaving our lot via wood chips. To help solve this issue staff has recommended contractors not have access to the City’s dump site and Street Department staff began hauling away nearly 9,000 cubic yards of wood chip material.
“Last year $19,274 was spent on stump grinding leaving a remaining balance of $15,726 for tree grinding. Knowing this balance would not cover tree grinding for fiscal year 23-24, staff chose to move this service to 24-25.”
The city is looking for bids to either grind the brush and log pile, or grind the brush/log pile and haul the resulting material off site.
The council also set August 19 at 6:05 p.m. for a public hearing on general obligation loan.
The council also approved the purchase of property located at 409 Prospect Street from Michael Rockwell for $4,850. The property, according to the council packet, has been reported as a nuisance property since 2016.
View this article as it originally appeared in the Daily Freeman-Journal.
Last modified: August 6, 2024