
Street Committee Meeting
May 25, 2021 - 1:15 p.m.
The meeting was called to order at 1:15 p.m.
Present were Arnold Knox, Director of Streets; Jim Bodenhamer, Susan Stockton and Jennifer Baker, Committee members.
Arnie began the meeting distributing a proposed ordinance for the Council at the next meeting, to waive competitive bidding on a new vehicle for the Street Department. He explained to the Committee, the State has finally released their list for state bid purchases, and he can now negotiate prices with Ultimate Auto. That is the reason for the bid waiver, Ultimate Auto will beat the state bid price. Jennifer asked if he is even able to get a new vehicle. Arnie said he won't know until he turns in an order, and he cannot turn in an order until he gets an approved bid waiver. Jennifer then said it has been a real problem getting new vehicles. Arnie agreed and added, he doesn't even know if he will be able to get new vehicles this year, but he will have the waiver on file for when he can place an order, even if it is next January. All voted to take the ordinance to the Council for approval.
The Street Report for April was reviewed.
Arnie reported asphalt has finally been put down at Gentry Street and Market Street, and asphalt was completed on Thorn Street this morning. The next meeting will show the final number on these projects. Medical Plaza is next to get the asphalt, and then they will begin the list of overlays that will be completed by the end of July.
The construction crew working at Medical Plaza has completed that project and they have moved back over to Burnett Drive to finish that rebuild. Arnie reported this project is at a cost to date of $361,664.05 and they are in front of Regional Family Medicine widening that part of the road to three lanes. He added, the three lanes will wrap up at Beard Drive and continue the rebuild to Buttercup Drive. The total cost to date for Burnett Drive is $361,664.05.
Medical Plaza has been completed and waiting for asphalt. The cost to Medical Plaza is $317,322.50.
The Market/Thorn rebuild project has been completed, asphalt is down, and the crew is finishing up their landscaping on Thorn Street. They will then begin a new rebuild project at Spring Street next week. The cost to Market/Thorn is $312,775.53.
The new Fire Department location has not seen much work due to the mud. Fill has been hauled in and pushed off, and the cost to date is $37,906.
Maintenance for the month of April is $16,092.78 and mowing, spraying and trimming weeds has begun for the summer, including sign maintenance.
The Budget Summary was reviewed. Arnie said everything looks good, the Sales Tax is up 11% for the year, and said he will go to the Council in July to make adjustments to the Budget. He plans on ordering a one-ton truck soon and putting backhoes out for bid. Jim asked if the asphalt bids were in line with what Arnie expected. He said, he had expected about $65 per ton, but the low bid was at $78. He added he is putting another round of bids out in June for July overlays. There are about two years of overlays planned which will total near $800,000 this summer. Arnie reported starting next week, Spring Street will undergo a rebuild beginning at Buzzard Roost to Forest Drive. He mentioned again the Russell Lane rebuild project he has planned. He asked the Committee if they had a chance to look at where they thought the best place to end this project, either at Driftwood, or at Breckenridge. He said he had spoken with Larry at the Baxter County Road and Bridge Department about doing a partial cost share for a small portion of that road but hasn't heard anything yet from them. He will need to make a decision in the next three months on where to end that rebuild project.
The meeting adjourned at 1:32 p.m.