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Melbourne council orders survey, investigation into supporting wall at 102 Main Street
Summary
Council authorized a real-property survey and further investigations after contractor Ciro Dilorio presented a $91,601 estimate to tear down and rebuild a failing supporting wall at 102 Main Street; options include grants, a sale of the lot, or legal research on shared-wall ownership.
The Melbourne City Council on May 17 authorized a real-property survey of Lots 1 and 2, Block 6 and directed staff to pursue further investigations and remedies after a contractor estimated reconstruction costs for a failing supporting wall at 102 Main Street.
Contractor Ciro Dilorio presented an estimate of $91,601 to remove the old wall, resurface the remaining wall with a waterproofing membrane, install steel studs and repair approximately 4 feet of the adjacent roof on Steve Fields’ building. Dilorio told the council that, in his experience, shared walls sometimes become the responsibility of the adjoining building owner after years of use and that resolving ownership can require court action. He offered to research available grants and assistance; Clerk Mary Pothast said she had contact information from the Iowa League of Cities.
Mayor Cynthia Mansager asked staff to check competitive procurement thresholds for vertical infrastructure for a city Melbourne’s size. Meeting notes record that maintenance or reconstruction projects over $55,000 up to $138,999 require a competitive quote process, and projects $139,000 and over require formal competitive bidding under state code; the transcript did not specify the exact statute. The council voted to obtain a property survey and to pursue a second opinion, pricing per state code, a possible sale of the lot with a required timeframe for remedying public-safety issues by a new owner, and city-attorney research on ownership (motion by Carrie White; second by Beth Smith). The motion passed by unanimous vote of members present.
Steve Fields, who had addressed the council earlier during public comment, expressed concerns that the parapet had not been replaced and that some repair options could cause his roof to leak. Mayor Mansager told Fields to consider making an offer if he wished to acquire the lot for remedial work; Fields said he might be interested depending on an acceptable offer.
Council direction was investigatory: staff were authorized to commission a survey, seek pricing and legal guidance, and explore funding or sale options. No final decision to sell property or to allocate construction funding was made at the meeting.
