Council approves geotech, asbestos abatement, security migration and maintenance contracts; enters executive session

HARRISBURG — The Harrisburg City Council on Wednesday approved multiple vendor quotes covering public-works and IT needs and later entered executive session for contract negotiations under state law.

In a single meeting the council approved: a geotechnical exploration proposal for Willow Street ($7,500); asbestos abatement at the city’s old water treatment facility (Prairie Environmental Consulting, $4,030.63); a migration of the city’s electronic security system to a new provider (Convergent and Albers Electric, $105,237.39); and recurring channel/maintenance services from All Seasons (contracts shown in the packet at about $2,998 per visit and $2,531 per visit for separate locations).

Geotechnical work: Chad Eady of Planning and Zoning described the geotechnical scope for Willow Street, saying contractors will take five 21-foot borings under the existing roadway and five hand augers in ditches, perform laboratory testing and provide a written report with construction recommendations. The council approved the geotech cost proposal; the transcript records councilmember Kaczynski and two other members recording “Aye” during the vote.

Asbestos abatement: The council approved a quote of $4,030.63 from Prairie Environmental Consulting to remove asbestos-containing wallboard inside the city’s old water treatment building located east of town near County Road 27 between Third and Fourth Streets. The motion passed; the transcript records “Aye” votes from multiple councilmembers during roll call.

Electronic security migration: IT staff said the city’s current security system is tied to a Lincoln County account and the city wants to migrate to local control. The council approved a Convergent and Albers Electric quote for $105,237.39. Staff told the council approximately $50,000 is already budgeted in the general fund; staff identified a sewer/water line-item in the wastewater fund that could cover the wastewater-plant portion of the project so the purchase would not require additional new city-wide appropriation.

Channel/maintenance services: The council approved two recurring maintenance contracts from All Seasons (packet figures recorded in the meeting as approximately $2,998 per time for one site and $2,531 per time for another). Staff explained the work is safety-sensitive because of steep channel slopes and that city crews had not been able to safely perform the work.

Executive session: The council moved into executive session pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(4) for contract negotiations at about 6:20 p.m.; the transcript records the council returning to open session at 7:23 p.m.

Votes: the transcript shows motions, seconds and aye votes for each item as recorded at the meeting. Where the public transcript provided a roll-call it is noted in the action entries below; for items where the roll-call names were not fully recorded in the transcript the action entry flags that fact.