Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Procurement And Votes topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves zoning change, equipment bids, pay request and paving contract; correspondence on bridge cost variance noted
Summary
The commission approved a zoning amendment to permit an Abby Greenhouse accessory use, accepted bids to outfit a 1999 Spartan fire vehicle, approved a $14,665.50 pay request to Cross General Contracting, and accepted paving bids totaling $360,494; staff also reported a local bridge award that exceeded estimates but will cost the city approximately $21,000.
At the meeting the commission handled a series of routine and procurement items, approving several motions by voice vote.
Zoning amendment: After opening a public hearing, the commission approved an amendment to the zoning ordinance to allow the Abby Greenhouse Garden Center as an accessory use in C and D districts. Supporters called the change a ‘‘common-sense move’’ for downtown business activity; the amendment passed by voice vote and the public hearing was closed.
Fire apparatus equipment: The commission reviewed two quotations to outfit a used 1999 Spartan fire apparatus and approved the selected vendor bid after discussing included items such as air bottles and carbon-fiber cylinders. The selected vendor and dollar amount were recorded in the packet; commissioners discussed the operational role for the vehicle (to be used as the department’s number-two attack truck) and equipment weight/maintenance considerations.
Construction pay request: The commission approved Cross General Contracting’s Pay Request No. 2 for $14,665.50 related to restroom renovation work. Staff reported the contractor’s tentative restart and completion schedules (bids for the east bathroom project are due in mid-April; construction planned for the fall).
Paving projects: Staff presented bids for the 2025 local paving program (Cemetery Hill, Grand Avenue milling/overlay and three blocks of West Superior). The commission accepted the low bid package totaling $360,494 and placed the bids on file for final contracting.
Correspondence: Staff explained an MDOT-administered local bridge award that exceeded the engineering estimate by a large percentage; staff clarified the city’s estimated share is approximately $21,000 because the remaining cost will be covered by MDOT/local-bridge funds. Commissioners requested the variance be noted publicly due to the size of the overage compared with the original estimate.
All above motions carried by voice votes or as recorded in the meeting minutes.
