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Votes at a glance: New Richmond council approves multiple contracts, purchases and program actions
Summary
Council votes included award of pole-replacement contract, transformer purchases, vehicle and inspection-service awards, authorizations to bid PLC and fiber work, landfill monitoring contract, tourism grants and establishment of Forward New Richmond as the local loan-review committee.
At its most recent meeting the New Richmond City Council approved a package of operational contracts, equipment purchases and program actions. Items with formal votes included procurement awards, purchase authorizations and program approvals.
Key votes and outcomes (summary):
- Contracted pole replacements: Council authorized awarding the contracted pole-replacement work to Push Incorporated (Rice Lake, Wisconsin) with a not-to-exceed amount of $50,000; motion passed by roll call.
- Three-phase transformer purchases: Council authorized purchasing transformers (RESCO/ERCO units recommended by staff) intended to support school projects (one 500 kVA for the middle school and one for Paperjack Elementary). Staff recommended RESCO as low-cost supplier; the exact purchase totals were not clearly stated on the audio record. Alderman Gartner abstained due to a relationship with the school; motion passed.
- Truck replacement (Unit 64): Council awarded the bid to Johnson Ford in the amount of $44,489 for the half-ton pickup (one alderman abstained); motion passed.
- Programmable logic controller (PLC) upgrade: Council authorized staff to solicit bids to replace end-of-life PLCs in the water system and update software; motion passed.
- Fiber optic installation: Council authorized bidding conduit and fiber installations to extend city fiber to remaining wells and towers; motion passed.
- Construction inspection services: Council selected MSA as the primary firm and SEH as the secondary firm for private-development construction inspections for 2025; motion passed.
- Commercial plumbing inspections: Council authorized contracting with Maelstrom Inspections LLC for primary inspection services and Johnson Brothers Plumbing (as backup/supervisor); staff and city attorney to finalize contract language; motion passed.
- Landfill monitoring services: Council authorized staff to finalize and execute an agreement with GHD for annual monitoring services at the former landfill site on 1 Fifteenth Street (near the compost and disc-golf area); motion passed.
- Tourism funding (Q4 recommendations): Council approved tourism committee reimbursement recommendations including allocations for the City of New Richmond, New Richmond Area Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Center; amounts were specified in the packet and were approved by motion.
- Forward New Richmond as loan-decision committee: Council approved a resolution designating Forward New Richmond as the local decision committee for Regional Business Fund micro- and facade-loan applications; councilors asked that committee members be reminded to abstain and exit discussions if conflicts arise.
Most motions passed by roll call and were unanimous where recorded except for abstentions noted above. Several items were routine procurement and administrative approvals the staff said were time-sensitive.
