Allegan council authorizes Water Street parking-lot repairs and Mahan Park furniture purchases

The Allegan City Council authorized two public-works expenditures at its Feb. 24 meeting: a resurfacing contract for the Water Street parking lot and a furniture purchase for Mahan Park.

City staff described the Water Street lot (a city-owned public lot) as "past its useful life," saying it "is riddled with potholes" and has "exposed rebar." Staff recommended issuing a purchase order to Milbacher & Sons for $110,371.60 and creating a budget adjustment of $125,000 to pay for the work from the general fund. Council approved the purchase order and budget adjustment by voice vote.

For Mahan Park, staff said the full reconstruction project cost rose from an original estimate of $400,000 to about $466,000 after detailed bids and that outside grants and fundraising had reduced the city's net cost. Council approved a $25,385 purchase order to Landscape Forms for park furniture and a budget adjustment in the range of about $61,006.84 to $61,684.97 (the staff report and the motion contained slightly different figures). The staff presentation noted cost savings achieved through direct purchases to avoid contractor markup.

Staff said the DPW will handle some concrete-apron replacements in-house for cost savings. Council moved, supported and approved both items by voice vote.

What’s next: Work on the Water Street lot will proceed under the Milbacher contract and Mahan Park purchases will be ordered to match the park reconstruction schedule; staff expects further budget reporting as project invoices arrive.