Vernon council grants display for historic ‘Captain Fritz,’ approves CDBG-CV bidder and well change order

The Vernon City Council convened Monday the 16th and voted to permit the Burnham Historical Society to place the remains of the steamboat Captain Fritz on city property and to record that approval in the meeting minutes.

The request came from Bob Wells, who identified himself as “the oldest charter member of the Grumman Historical Society” and described the Captain Fritz as a nearly buried hull in the river that divers and local promoters can recover. After discussing size, transport logistics and preservation measures (fencing, a pole-barn-style shelter and water treatment), the council added the petition to the agenda and voted to grant permission for the exhibit to be placed between Hall 1 and Hall 2 behind the historical society’s museum.

Why it matters: The decision allows the historical society to document the council’s endorsement when pursuing approval from the governor’s office and historical preservation authorities and to proceed with planning for transport and display, subject to operational details.

In other business tied to city infrastructure and federal grant funding, staff reported the city’s remaining CDBG-CV balance and presented bidding results. “What we have left in that budget is $810,579,” staff (speaker 2) told the council, and the low base bid received was $1,184,095 with alternate 1 at $24,174. Staff asked the council to approve Reliant South as the low bidder so the city could submit a request to Florida Commerce; the council approved the bidder and authorized staff to proceed with the submission.

Water operations also prompted a formal change order. The city’s operations official (speaker 3) said Well 2 appears to have collapsed, while Well 1 is murky when pumped; contractors recommended cleaning the well casing and performing a pump test. “Their cost to that work is $57,171.36,” the official said, noting the net change to the contract would be approximately $7,171.36 after reallocating previously cut items. The council voted to approve the change order and directed staff to proceed with the casing cleaning and a pump test to determine capacity.

Votes at a glance: - Permission for Burnham Historical Society to place the Captain Fritz steamboat on city property: motion made by Staff member (speaker 2), seconded by Chair (speaker 1); outcome: approved (vocal aye, no opposition recorded). (Topic introduced SEG 218; decision recorded SEG 564–591.) - CDBG-CV low-bidder approval (Reliant South): staff requested approval to name the low bidder and submit to Florida Commerce; motion approved. (Topic introduced SEG 598; motion SEG 634–642.) - Well casing cleaning change order and pump test: change order for an additional $57,171.36 (net $7,171.36 increase) approved; staff to report back on pump testing. (Topic introduced SEG 643; motion SEG 723–731.) - Temporary animal-control on-call arrangement (Nicole at $15.25/hr as needed): motion made and carried; arrangement approved at-will while staff pursues a permanent officer. (Topic SEG 733–889.) - Heritage Fest attendance (Raytown, April 25, 10 a.m.): approved. (SEG 890–898.) - Two valve/board repairs (Moss Hill and Pioneer): approved with city supplying parts. (SEG 1086–1136.)

What’s next: Staff will submit required CDBG-CV documentation to Florida Commerce, the operations team will proceed with the approved well casing cleaning and pump test and will report results back to the council, and the historical society may proceed with arrangements contingent on external approvals and the council’s recorded permission.

All motions that passed were recorded verbally during the meeting; no roll-call tallies with member-by-member votes were read into the minutes in this transcript.