City work crews to install new water mains

City Crews will be getting their hands dirty as the Fort Scott City Commission decided to use in-house labor for infrastructure improvements.

Fort Scott Public Works Director addressed the commission Tuesday night about the consideration of bids to purchase materials and install a 12-inch water main on National Avenue from Wall Street to Second Street and on First Street from National Avenue to Main Street. With the bid coming in significantly higher than the $130,000 budget, Bailey suggested having city crews install the water mains to bring the cost down.

Bailey said the lowest bid for the installation came in at $105,140 and the lowest bid for the materials was just under $70,000. Coming in about $40,000 over budget, Bailey looked for other options. Fort Scott City Manager Joe Turner said that Bailey addressed him about the issue Tuesday morning and said Bailey had to convince him that city crews were a better option. After the discussion Turner is confident that city crews can do the work.

Bailey said that the project will take about three to four weeks to complete and will begin as soon as the materials arrive. He said workers from nearly every department will be involved in the project to get it done as quickly as possible. Turner said now is the best time for the project because the crews are available and will not be as the weather warms up.

Bailey said the street will be closed one block at a time as the crews are working. He said it may be possible to have the streets open during the evening hours when the crews are not working.

Commissioner Jim Adams voice his concern about the cost of having the city employees install the water mains. He said he would like to see a cost analysis done so the city knows if there will be any cost savings over having another company do the installation.

The commission voted to reject all bids for the installation of the water mains and voted to accept the bid of $68,699 from Water Products, of Harrisonville, Mo., for the materials. The commission also voted to have the Public Works Department keep an account of the cost to be used as a comparison for future projects of a similar nature.

Other business conducted included:

* Declared March as American Red Cross Month.

* Approved to fund $1,500 to the Keyhole and $2,500 to Big Brothers/Big Sisters out of the Special Drug and Alcohol Fund.

* Tabled the leasing of city owned property to Irma Hughes until Hughes has an opportunity to discuss the lease with her insurance company.

* Discussed the addition of two areas of work to be included in the storm sewer improvements on Horton Street near 23rd Street. After discussion the commission decided to include additional storm sewer improvements from the pump station to Fairway Street, a total of $89,500 of additional cost, and from Fairway Street to the false alley, an additional $30,890, as alternate options when bidding the original project. Adams requested the city hold off on the decision until the future of the Kansas National Guard Armory is determined. The commission was informed that the alternated may be rejected after bids have been turned in. The original project will be funded by FEMA and the additional improvements would be funded through the Storm Drainage Utility Fund Reserves.

* Approved the bid of $32,873 from Norris Heating and Air, of Fort Scott, for the replacement of four HVAC units at the Industrial Park Building. Commissioners chose Norris Heating and Air over the lowest bidder, CDL Electric in Joplin, Mo., because it was a local company. Commissioner Dick Hedges said previously the commission discussed they would chose a local bid over an out of town bid if it was within five percent however it was never made into an official policy. The Norris Heating and Air bid was more than nine percent higher.

* Fort Scott resident Jim Shoemaker addressed the commission requesting that a policy be enacted which would allow vacancies on city-formed committees to be advertised to the public. Turner informed Shoemaker that such a policy has been put into place.

* Multiple commissioner commended the Fort Scott Public Works Department for its efforts in clearing the roads following the snow on Friday. Bailey said the department used a pretreatment which prevented the snow from sticking to the roads, making it easier to remove.

* Commissioner Sam Mason requested the city clear the area around the Fort Scott Animal Shelter so that the site would be ready for future improvements to the shelter.

* Mason requested the city revise it's court cost fee schedule. Fort Scott City Attorney Bob Farmer informed Mason that the city has been working on that and the topic should appear on the next meeting's budget.

* Mason also requested a survey be completed in conjunction with the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce which would ask residents was the needs are for the building in the downtown area and the area as a whole.

* Turner informed the commission that he would like to hold two public meetings to discuss the future of the Kansas National Guard Armory. He said the meetings would be held during the commission meetings on Feb. 16 and March 2. The meetings would allow the public to voice ideas on what the city should do with the vacant building.

* Turner briefly discussed a chapter of the U.S. Highway 69 Corridor Study which discusses the implementation of the proposed improvements. He said he would like to form committees which would focus on the implementation and the financing for the projects or possibly hire an intern from the University of Kansas.

* Turner informed the commission that he would like to hire a part-time custodian for City Hall. He said this person would be responsible for cleaning city hall and would work about 20 hours per week.

* Upon the request of Farmer, the commission went into executive session for 15 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel. While in executive session the commission voted to extend the session for an additional 15 minutes. No action was taken.