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Baldwin City Council approves bid to restore 8th and High brick intersection, delays final logo decision
Summary
The council approved a $158,796 bid to replace the 8th and High Street brick intersection using salvaged bricks and waived the engineering estimate; council directed staff to solicit public input on final logo/design options and kept an option to add a paid ornamental design later.
Baldwin City Council voted to approve the original bid to replace the 8th and High Street brick intersection using salvaged (old) bricks, and waived the engineering estimate, while reserving an option to add a paid ornamental design later.
City staff told the council the design option proposed in the bid would add roughly $20,000 because the ornamental map-leaf image requires more cutting and additional labor. "Out of that 141, we had a 118 people reply back that they would like to see the old brick be used," a city staff member reported, summarizing a recent public survey that the council had circulated. The staff member also said public works has "about 5 pallets" of extra bricks available, but that supply would not cover large stretches of the project.
Council members debated trade-offs between preserving historic brick and the extra cost and long-term repair complexity of an intricate logo. One council member said the proposed leaf design created many small cuts and angles that would complicate future repairs. Another urged taking advantage of the contractor’s current schedule to avoid rebidding and higher future costs.
The council adopted a motion to accept the prior (original) bid for salvaged brick and to waive the engineering estimate, with the motion including "the option to add the additional cost for the design." The motion was moved, seconded and passed by voice vote.
City staff said they would prepare multiple design options and open a public survey for feedback; staff also warned the council that approving the bid now helps hold the contractor’s place in the schedule and that construction timing may need to avoid the Maple Leaf event (staff asked that work not start until after Aug. 9). The city has roughly $260,000 in its Brick Street account, staff said, and staff will return with refined design options and any cost adjustments if the council wants a different logo.
The council’s decision keeps the project moving forward while asking staff to pursue public input and simpler logo options that might reduce cutting and repair costs.
