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Bloomfield council approves mowing contract, project payments and tax levy schedule; withholds asphalt retainage
Summary
At its meeting the Bloomfield council awarded the cemetery mowing contract, approved several payments and a radio purchase, forwarded a proposed property tax levy rate to the county auditor with a public hearing scheduled, and withheld final retainage for an asphalt project pending sidewalk completion.
The Bloomfield council voted on a batch of routine municipal items, awarding a cemetery mowing contract, approving several payments and a small equipment purchase, scheduling a public hearing on the property tax levy and withholding retainage for an incomplete sidewalk subcontract.
Cemetery mowing: Council members discussed a single bid for cemetery mowing that spreads work and payment across 12 months though active mowing is seasonal. The council awarded the contract to Lawn and Landscape Service (listed in the meeting as Moora LLC). Members asked how floral debris is handled and confirmed three seasonal pickups were proposed at a cost of $2,785; staff noted debris was placed in a trailer and typically later dumped at a local site. The motion to award the cemetery mowing bid was approved by roll call.
Project retainage: Staff asked that final retainage for Norris Asphalt's square project not be released because subcontracted sidewalks (TK Concrete) remained incomplete. The council did not carry a motion to release retainage and staff advised withholding the retainage until the project is complete.
Approvals and payments: The council approved a partial payment of about $19,000 to JT Grooms Construction for engine room painting, and approved a first-quarter $10,000 payment for Main Street 2026 green-development activities. Members also approved a purchase of roughly $12,600 for radios to equip snow-plow/public-works vehicles; members discussed compatibility with existing radios and warranty options and asked staff to continue researching alternatives.
Property tax levy: Staff presented a proposed levy figure and recommended sending it to the county auditor for formal public notice. The council chose a reduced levy rate (described in the packet as 2.041) rather than levying the maximum allowed; staff said the lower rate reduces revenues by roughly $12,000 and can be trimmed elsewhere in the budget. The council scheduled a public hearing on the proposed levy for April 2 at 5:45 p.m. at the Bloomfield Public Library.
Next steps: Staff will record the retainage withholding in project files, proceed with the awarded maintenance contract, finalize the JT Grooms payment as approved, list the proposed levy with the county auditor and publish notice for the April public hearing, and continue research on radio procurement options.
