Lafayette approves water contracts, takes bids in advisement and waives historic demolition waiting periods after safety concerns

Lafayette City leaders on Tuesday approved a series of utility contracts and amendments, took demolition bids in advisement and waived a 60-day demolition waiting period for two properties in the Centennial National Historic District after city staff and the developer cited safety concerns.

The actions affect water infrastructure contracts, a lead service line replacement project, a Glick Wellfield contract amendment paid with American Rescue Plan funds, and two demolition requests at 700 and 708 North Fifth Street where officials said boarded buildings were attracting trespassers.

The approvals included a $4,105.11 change order that reduced the Caldwell Tanks contract for the We All Ridge elevated tank project from $5,635,400 to $5,631,294.89, and a $5,311,130 award to Atlas Excavating Incorporated for phase 1 of the lead service line replacement project. The board also approved a notice to proceed on the Atlas contract effective the day of the meeting.

Steve Moore, superintendent, Lafayette Water Works, presented the Caldwell Tanks change order and recommended approval, saying the change order “reduces the original contract price from $5,635,400 to $5,631,294.89.” The motion to approve was moved and seconded and carried.

The board approved amendment number 2 to the contract with Wesler Engineering Incorporated for the Glick Wellfield improvements, increasing that contract by $67,900 for additional construction administration and resident project representative time and bringing the total to $360,900. The amendment will be paid using ARP funds allocated to the project.

Economic Development staff presented two demolition permit requests by the same property owner for 700 and 708 North Fifth Street. Dan Kaiser, Lafayette’s historic preservation officer, had recommended maintaining the 60-day waiting period because 700 North Fifth Street sits inside the Centennial National Historic District. Myles Volkow, Economic Development, relayed that recommendation to the board.

John Tiebel, the developer working on the site commonly referred to as the “old pub,” told the board his team plans 35 townhomes and that the houses at the corner of Fifth and Wall are in poor condition. “We can’t keep people out of it,” Tiebel said, adding that crews recently found “people sleeping in the home with propane tanks on,” and that the foundations and brick are decayed.

Jeremy Grinard, city engineer, agreed the situation is a safety concern. “I would concur that this is a safety issue,” he said, citing prior incidents in which people living in boarded structures created fire hazards when they removed boards and used propane heaters.

Despite Kaiser’s recommendation to maintain the waiting period for historic-review purposes, the board voted to waive the 60-day waiting period for both 700 and 708 North Fifth Street so demolition and site clearance could proceed for public-safety reasons. The developer said asbestos abatement is complete and crews have the green light; he estimated removal would occur as soon as scheduling allows and said he “would suspect” demolition could happen within about 30 days.

Other routine actions included taking two bids for a rebid demolition at 11 North Thirteenth Street — Crowell Earthwork LLC of Lafayette submitted $92,000 and Covered Construction Concepts LLC submitted $95,000. The board voted to take those bids in advisement.

City Controller Jeremy Deal presented claims totaling $14,619,973.93, which the board approved. The board also approved a banner request for April 8–20, 2025, and approved the previous meeting’s minutes.

During public comment, resident Tyler Beach raised multiple safety and law-enforcement concerns in his neighborhood, including alleged criminal activity and reporting issues; the chair and staff noted those matters were police issues and outside the board’s purview. The meeting adjourned after the scheduled items were completed.

Votes at a glance

- Approve minutes from last week — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Take bids in advisement for 11 North Thirteenth Street demolition (Crowell Earthwork LLC: $92,000; Covered Construction Concepts LLC: $95,000) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (bids taken in advisement). - Approve change order (Caldwell Tanks Incorporated) reducing We All Ridge elevated tank contract to $5,631,294.89 — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve contract with Atlas Excavating Incorporated — Lead Service Line Replacement Phase 1, contract price $5,311,130 — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve notice to proceed for Atlas Excavating contract, effective today — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve amendment No. 2 with Wesler Engineering Incorporated for Glick Wellfield improvements, +$67,900, total $360,900 (paid with ARP funds) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Waive 60-day historic-demolition waiting period for 700 North Fifth Street (Centennial National Historic District) on safety grounds — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Waive 60-day historic-demolition waiting period for 708 North Fifth Street on safety grounds — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve claims totaling $14,619,973.93 — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Approve banner request for April 8–20, 2025 — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.

What changed and what’s next

The board’s actions clear the way for demolition and site work at two North Fifth Street properties and advance a major lead-service-line replacement contract and related construction administration. Staff said the Glick Wellfield amendment will be paid from ARP funds already allocated to that project. The developer said asbestos abatement is complete and crews will proceed on demolition as scheduling permits; no exact demolition dates were recorded.

Notes on procedure and limitations

Historic preservation staff had recommended the 60-day waiting period be maintained for the property inside the Centennial National Historic District; the board explicitly waived that waiting period only for reasons described on the record (public-safety concerns). Several motions were moved and seconded; the transcript records the board’s voice votes (“Aye”) for passage but does not list a roll-call tally in the minutes provided.