Powell council approves bids, waives band-shell fee and reviews third-quarter finances

At a regular meeting of the Powell City Council, members approved multiple routine and infrastructure items and heard the city’s third-quarter revenue and expense report.

The council approved the meeting agenda and the April 6 minutes by voice votes. Council also approved bills and claims totaling $735,680.10.

Staff presented and the council approved Resolution No. 3 20 26, an exception to the open-container ordinance for a Special Olympics event on May 16; staff noted Amigos is helping to host the event. The council also approved a request to waive the band-shell fee (listed as $15 in the packet) for the Powell Middle School and Powell High School jazz bands for a May 14 performance.

On infrastructure, the council approved bid awards and authorized signatures on two public-works contracts. Staff reported Subsurface Inc. of Fargo, North Dakota, was the sole qualified bidder for slip-lining the drain serving areas from Basil Drive to Metal Court; the total with alternate work was reported as $271,650, below the $300,000 budget. The council approved that bid.

For a sewer-line extension crossing property identified in the record as Mr. Sheridan’s, staff reported two qualified bidders. The lowest bid was from Earth Movers Excavation at $338,000; staff said the statutory 5% Wyoming preference would effectively place that bid at $354,900. That award was approved; staff noted the project was budgeted at $500,000.

The council approved an independent fee estimate for an FAA-funded runway rehabilitation project at the Powell airport; staff said the city’s share is approximately 2.5% of the federally funded total and that an independent engineer review is required by the FAA before bids are awarded.

Counseling routine legislative business, the council approved Ordinance 15 20 26 on second reading to annex certain real property and authorized necessary signatures. The council also adopted an Arbor Day proclamation recognizing the city’s consecutive years of Tree City USA status and noted a tree distribution at Homestair Park.

Finance director-level staff reviewed third-quarter financials: general-fund revenues at about 77% of expectations; water at 74%; wastewater at 69%; sanitation and fiber funds noted in the packet. The report listed department-level expenditure rates (for example, administration ~67%, police ~73%, parks ~61%) and anticipated modest carryover into the next fiscal year for several funds. Staff identified upcoming south-side water projects to be bid and said some enterprise fund interfund repayments (notably a fiber-related loan repayment of about $85,000) are typically recorded at year-end.

Votes at a glance: - Agenda: approved (voice vote) - April 6 minutes: approved (voice vote) - Bills and claims ($735,680.10): approved (voice vote) - Resolution No. 3 20 26 (open-container exception for Special Olympics): approved (voice vote) - Band-shell fee waiver for Powell Middle/High School jazz band (May 14): approved (voice vote) - Ordinance 15 20 26 (annexation, second reading): approved (voice vote) - Basin/Basil drain slip-lining (Subsurface Inc., total with alternate $271,650): approved (voice vote) - Sewer-line extension (Earth Movers Excavation, low bid $338,000; adjusted with 5% preference $354,900): approved (voice vote) - Runway rehab independent fee estimate (FAA project): approved (voice vote)

The meeting concluded after brief committee updates and announcements; the council adjourned by unanimous voice vote.

Quotes (representative): Staff member: "The total with the alternate was $271,650" when discussing the drain slip-lining bid. Chair: "All those in favor? Aye." (voice-vote confirmations repeated throughout the meeting.)

Next steps noted in the meeting: staff will proceed with contract execution for the approved public-works projects, prepare bids for upcoming south-side water projects, and finalize year-end accounting entries that include interfund repayments.