Aldermen hear first reading on mass-grading contract to prepare site for innovation center and public works facility

At the meeting the Board of Aldermen placed bill 3633 on its first reading by title only, opening discussion about awarding a mass-grading contract to prepare the innovation center site for a new public works facility.

Director Jeremy Parson described the scope as horizontal site work to export soil and construct approaches and storm sewer needed before building the facility. Parson told the board the city had budgeted $190,000 for excavation and received a low bid of about $125,725 from Daryl Mroteck Construction. Parson described previous environmental and geotechnical work confirming the site's soils are suitable for reuse as fill for approaches.

Board members asked whether the excavation would affect the police firing range; Parson said the current work "will not impact the existing range" and staff is exploring options for a permanent, safer range location at the Oak Valley wastewater treatment site. Aldermen also discussed logistics to minimize double-handling of excavated material; Parson said staff will coordinate pre-construction planning to reduce costs and dovetail multiple projects for economies of scale.

The motion to place bill 3633 on first reading was made by Alderman Metcalfe, seconded by Alderman Snyder, and the show-of-hands vote to proceed carried. The ordinance had not been adopted at that meeting; staff said they will return with next steps and updates once procurement and scheduling are finalized.

Parson characterized the work as preparatory: "Think of this as just the horizontal work for that building, and then we'll be ready to go vertical."