City Administrator provided an operations update outlining several public-works and utility projects and a contractor termination.
The administrator said the South Service area sanitary sewer project contractor has been terminated and the city is working with bond counsel on the project. "South Service area sanitary sewer project, we've terminated the contract with the contractor, and we are working with bond counsel on that project," the administrator reported.
Officials said the James-to-Blueberry ductile-iron, cement-lined water main construction continues; Ash Street and the city's asphalt street program are scheduled to start next week; Highway 2 Money Creek tributary work is awaiting MoDOT scheduling; and the concrete/curb contractor must provide insurance by Thursday or the city will proceed to the second bidder. The parks department is pouring concrete this week for a T-Mobile project, and final construction drawings were approved for a Little Caesar's site with a Sept. 8 pre-construction meeting.
Public Works staff also reported a backlog of locates after recent contractor activity: 333 locates were completed in a two-week period, and staff said they have limited contractor crews working concurrently to reduce overlapping excavation. The administrator reminded residents to report contractor-related issues through company hotlines before contacting the city to ensure direct response.
The administrator's report included routine items such as termination of a contract, ongoing negotiations on Royal Street extension with a property owner's attorney, Anaconda Road easement vacating coordination with Missouri Northwestern Arkansas Railroad and MoDOT, and general scheduling for upcoming projects. No formal board votes were taken on these operational updates at the meeting.