Prairie City Council approves $773,613 water‑main contract, adopts ordinances and reallocates funds for intersection work

Prairie City — The Prairie City City Council on Nov. 13 approved a series of infrastructure contracts, ordinances and budget moves, including awarding a $773,613 contract to Wynn Company for Phase 2 of the city’s water‑main replacement project and reallocating $29,186.45 to design and construction work at the S Norris Street intersection.

At a meeting called to order by Mayor Pro Tem Deb Townsend, council members unanimously approved the agenda and a consent package that included financials, claims, personnel items and multiple invoices. Council then opened and closed a public hearing on the Phase 2 Water Main Replacement Project with no public comment and approved Resolution 11-13-24-3 confirming the project plans and estimate of cost. "Simmons motioned to approve," the record shows; the motion carried on a unanimous roll-call vote.

Following bid review and a noted $20 arithmetic miscalculation on a submission, council awarded the Phase 2 construction contract to Wynn Company for a final approved amount of $773,613 (motion by Councilmember Emily Simmons; second by Councilmember Joe Disney). The meeting record states the council discussed the miscalculation and approved the contract by unanimous vote.

The council also approved two contract amendments with engineering firm MSA to cover additional scope for the Phase 3 work: Amendment 1 for $10,000 and Amendment 2 for $15,000 (motions by Simmons; second by Phil Holland), both adopted unanimously.

Council addressed several land‑use and local‑code items. After a public hearing with no comments, members approved Resolution 11-13-24-5 and Ordinance 403 to vacate an alleyway east of S Main and north of 406 S Main St; the resolution requires a payment of $620 for alley value by William Lack and allocation for up to $2,500 in easement creation costs if necessary. Council also adopted Ordinance 404 to enact the City’s Right‑of‑Way Design Manual and Ordinance 405 to add stop signs at the intersections of E Jefferson St & S Main St and E Jefferson St & S Marshall St; in the case of Ordinance 404 the council waived additional readings so the ordinance is effective upon publication.

On engineering and funding for the S Norris Street intersection, the council reviewed proposals from six firms and selected Snyder & Associates for design services at a price of $18,800. To help pay toward construction, the council reappropriated $29,186.45 in excess funds from the recently closed Sherman St and E Jefferson St water‑main project.

Other infrastructure and operational actions included approval of a TK Concrete quote of $19,825 for repair of a storm sewer structure related to the Fire‑EMS project plus a $3,950 markup to that project budget; authorization to add a sanitary sewer line for Garden Square Park restrooms during Phase 3 construction (preferred connection at S Main & Jefferson); and approval of a $7,549.83 payment to CIT for repair of a sanitary sewer main on S Main St to be paid from project funding. The consent agenda also listed a final payment to MB Construction of $8,013.73 to close the Sherman St and E Jefferson St water‑main project.

Council handled several noncapital items: it authorized staff to contact JEDCO to market the former library at 100 E 5th St for lease opportunities, extended a city hall internship until its funding is expended, approved a co‑rec softball program with admission and concessions (no outside alcohol), denied requests to purchase two city properties, and directed staff to draft a written yard‑waste and tree debris disposal policy for the wastewater treatment plant drop‑off site. No public comments or correspondence were received on items that required public hearings.

The meeting adjourned at 7:56 p.m.

Votes at a glance: The record shows motions on the major items carried on unanimous roll‑call votes. Specific motions recorded in the minutes include:

• Resolution 11-13-24-3 (Phase 2 plans confirmation) — Moved Simmons; Second Disney; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Resolution 11-13-24-4 / Contract award to Wynn Company ($773,613) — Moved Simmons; Second Disney; outcome: approved unanimously.

• MSA contract Amendment 1 ($10,000) and Amendment 2 ($15,000) — Moved Simmons; Second Holland; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Resolution 11-13-24-5 and Ordinance 403 (alleyway vacation) — Moved Simmons; Second Holland; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Ordinance 404 (Right‑of‑Way Design Manual) — Moved Simmons; Second Disney; outcome: approved unanimously.

• Ordinance 405 (add stop signs) — Moved Ingle; Second Holland; outcome: approved unanimously.

What’s next: Staff were directed to return follow‑up information on marketing the old library in January, to develop a debris/drop‑off policy for the wastewater plant, and to proceed with design work on S Norris Street with Snyder & Associates.