Lafayette City Council approves routine bids, subdivision maintenance, change orders and a four-year labor agreement

The Lafayette City Council on Oct. 12 approved a set of routine items, including taking two property bids under advisement, accepting two subdivision utility systems for city maintenance, approving two construction change orders and adopting the last of the city’s labor contracts for 2025–2028.

The council first acknowledged two bids for city-owned parcels related to Old Romney Road. The council took under advisement a bid from FC Holding LLC of $10,800 for partial parcels 1 and 2 and a separate bid from M3J Properties LLC of $21,950 for parcel 3 on Old Romney Road. The motions to take those bids under advisement carried after voice votes.

Why it matters: taking a bid “under advisement” means the council is accepting the bids for later review rather than immediately awarding or rejecting them. Those parcels remain before the council for a future decision.

The council then approved a pair of engineering acceptances: Dave Murphy of the engineering department recommended acceptance of sewer and water mains for maintenance in Barrington Woods Section 3, a 38-lot section northwest of County Road 50 and McCarty Lane, and for Chesapeake Point Phase 1, a 64-lot section southwest of County Road 400 and U.S. 231. Council members moved and seconded the acceptances and voted all ayes.

Economic development and construction items included a change order for the Third and Fourth Street project. Dennis Carson, economic development director, said, “This change order is for $43,851.88, which will bring the new contract amount to $422,413.38, and [I am] asking for your approval.” The council approved Change Order No. 1 with Case Construction.

At Lafayette Waterworks, Superintendent Steve Moore described Change Order No. 3 for the Glick Wellfield Improvements Project. Moore said the order “adds secondary containment vessels and vent piping for existing chemical storage containers … new radar sensors and leak detection equipment for chemical feed tanks …” and that the change order increases the contract with Reynolds Construction by $168,163.15 and grants an additional 14 days. Moore said the change order will be paid with American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds. The council approved the change order.

Labor contract: Jackie, the city’s legal counsel, presented a new four-year agreement with the City of Lafayette Employee Alliance, retroactive to Jan. 1, 2025, through the end of 2028. Jackie said the agreement removes duplicate language that duplicated the employee handbook, phases in a clothing allowance over four years, increases shift differentials (to $0.60 for second shift and $1.00 for third shift), and eliminates a second sick-time bank in favor of a single sick bank with expanded accruals (employees may accumulate up to 12 weeks for FMLA-type events). The council moved, seconded and voted to approve the agreement.

The controller’s office presented claims for payment. Jeremy Deal, city controller, said, “The controller’s office has reviewed claims totaling $2,749,137.52,” and the council approved payment of those claims.

Other items: the We Are Bridal elevated tank project remains tabled and was not acted on during this meeting.

Votes at a glance - Take bid from FC Holding LLC for partial parcels 1 & 2 (Old Romney Road): bid $10,800 — motion to take under advisement — approved (voice vote). - Take bid from M3J Properties LLC for parcel 3 (Old Romney Road): bid $21,950 — motion to take under advisement — approved (voice vote). - Approve Change Order No. 1 (Third & Fourth Street project, Case Construction): increase $43,851.88; new contract total $422,413.38 — approved. - Accept sewer and water mains for maintenance, Barrington Woods Section 3 (38 lots) — approved. - Accept sanitary sewer and water mains for maintenance, Chesapeake Point Phase 1 (64 lots) — approved. - Approve four-year employment agreement with City of Lafayette Employee Alliance (Jan. 1, 2025–Dec. 31, 2028) — approved. - Approve Change Order No. 3 (Glick Wellfield Improvements Project, Reynolds Construction): increase $168,163.15; 14-day extension; payment from ARP funds — approved. - Approve claims totaling $2,749,137.52 — approved.

The meeting concluded with no further public comment; the council adjourned and scheduled a statutorily required hearing to begin shortly afterward.