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Medford council approves contracts, licenses and $69,500 water‑tower repair
Summary
At its Feb. 23 meeting the Medford City Common Council unanimously approved multiple routine items: two resolutions, contracts for wastewater and lift‑station engineering, a $69,500 Lane Tank contract to replace a fill pipe on Water Tower #2, a $778,802 capital improvement contract award, business and hauler licenses, and pool hours for the season.
The Medford City Common Council on Feb. 23 approved a series of routine resolutions, contracts, licenses and bid awards, including a $69,500 contract to replace the fill pipe on Water Tower #2 and a $778,802 contract award for 2026 capital improvements.
Mayor Mike Wellner convened the meeting and the council unanimously adopted Resolution No. 1976 to establish designated unreserved accounts for the General Fund and other funds after suspending Council Rules 13A and 13B. The same suspension of rules was used to adopt Resolution No. 1977 approving a long‑term contract extension with Great Lakes Utilities.
The council approved issuance of a Class B beer and liquor license to A&H Restaurantes Inc., doing business as The Tire Station Kitchen, naming Luis Arellano Rodriguez as agent, for the period March 1–June 30, 2026. Council also approved hauler licenses for refuse and recycling collection to GFL Solid Waste LLC through June 30, 2026.
On infrastructure matters, the council approved contracts with SEH for design and bidding services for a new industrial lift station at Industrial Drive and Whelen Avenue and for design, bidding and loan administration work at the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Funding for the lift station design will come from Wastewater Reserve Funds; funding for the treatment‑plant work will come from the Clean Water Fund Loan Program, as stated in the motions.
Council members were told a leak was discovered in the fill pipe of Water Tower #2 (the tower adjacent to the Fire Hall), which holds about 500,000 gallons. Lane Tank inspected the pipe with ultrasound, found Schedule‑20 piping below the typical Schedule‑40 standard, and recommended replacement because leaks tend to continue once they start. The council accepted Lane Tank's proposal and approved a $69,500 contract to replace the fill pipe, with funds drawn from the Water Utilities Maintenance of Standpipes account (62‑53713‑65020).
For the 2026 Capital Improvement Program, council accepted Ayres & Associates' recommendation and awarded the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, Switlick & Sons, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $778,802.
The council also approved the minutes of its Feb. 9 Common Council and Committee of the Whole meetings and set the community pool's operating hours for the season (Monday–Saturday: adult swim 12:15–1:00 p.m.; open swim 1:00–7:00 p.m.; Sunday: open swim 1:00–5:00 p.m.).
All recorded motions in the meeting were carried by unanimous vote of members present: Dave J. Brandner, Christine Weix, Clem Johnson, Ken Coyer, Michael Bub, Laura Holmes and Randy Haynes. Alderperson Tim Hansen was recorded as excused.
The council adjourned to the Committee of the Whole at 6:14 p.m.
Votes at a glance: Resolution #1976 (establish designated unreserved accounts) — adopted; Resolution #1977 (long‑term contract with Great Lakes Utilities) — adopted; Class B license, A&H Restaurantes Inc. (The Tire Station Kitchen) — approved; SEH engineering agreements (lift station and wastewater plant) — approved; Lane Tank fill‑pipe replacement ($69,500) — approved; GFL hauler licenses — approved; 2026 CIP award to Switlick & Sons ($778,802) — approved; pool hours — approved.
