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2021-09 Meeting Minutes

Street Committee Meeting

September 21, 2021 - 12:30 p.m.

 

The meeting was called to order at 12:29 p.m.

Present were Arnold Knox, Director of Streets; Jim Bodenhamer, Susan Stockton and Paige Evans, Committee Members.

Arnie began the meeting showing the Committee a picture of one of two backhoes delivered recently.  He said he plans on purchasing another one ton, but he isn't sure on when that will be delivered.  Arnie has decided to combine the two construction crews to work on one project, due to low staffing.  He said this will slow his projects down, but they will make better progress working together.  The crew that is finishing up on Spring Street will go over to Cooper Street and work with that crew on rebuilding Cooper, Louann and Demetree.  Personnel was discussed, with Arnie telling the Committee he is now short seven employees.  He projected an image on the wall that showed the pay scale and explained the Step and Grade process.  There was a brief discussion concerning the pay scale and what ideas he had moving forward.   He added, he has already spoken with the Mayor about the pay scale and said there will be more to go over when the 2022 Budget is reviewed.

 A lengthy cost comparison was discussed between ARDOT and the City on building streets, with the upcoming 5 South rebuild project included, currently in the planning stages.

The Street Report for August was reviewed.

Susan asked the reason for the estimated cost of $518,000 for the Burnett Drive project was lower than the cost to date, and Arnie said this was because that amount was the estimated cost up to Bucher Drive.  When they reached Bucher, it was decided to continue to Beard, then on to Buttercup to finish with the three-lane street.  Arnie reported to the Committee, Burnett Drive has been completed and but waiting for the asphalt to go down.  The cost to date is $559,449.22.  

The Fire Department's new location cost is about the same, to date $42,140.11 has been spent hauling in fill, and pushing off the loads.  He told the Committee, as soon as he is done with overlays, he is going to get that crew out there with a roller and a dozer to start shaping it and packing it to get ready for the final grade.  There is still a lot of fill to go in.  He told Kris it is just a dirt pile and was nowhere near ready to build on.  He told the Committee; they are about 30 to 40 feet from the silt fence and that is where they will start building it up.   His plan is to tear into everything that is stockpiled, and start compacting it in lifts, coming up, then once they are up to the pad, the last three feet will have high quality clay hauled in.  That will be the last three feet before a building can go in.  Paige asked if he was comfortable with the way the fill is being brought in over there and such a large building going in.  She said she has had a few people approach her with that question and asked if we have a construction engineer check.  Arnie told the Committee that he will have nuclear tests done, that cannot be done now, he again said this is just a dirt pile now and will be torn down to natural ground.  He explained that they will take the top of the dirt pile out further down to the rocks that were first hauled in and start rolling and compacting up from there.  She said she was glad to hear that.  Arnie told the Committee, if anybody has any questions, don't hesitate to call.  She said she didn't know they were going to go back in and dig it all out.  He added, there is about a year and a half to go before building begins, and with being short-handed, he couldn't have anybody out there to start the dirt moving this summer.  Arnie said Consolidated is working with him and did the original survey and grade work, and they will be doing the nuclear density tests also, we are just not ready for them yet. 

The crew working at the Spring Street rebuild project is finishing up some concrete, box lids and sidewalk.  The are working on landscaping.  Susan said it looked really nice.  Arnie said they are waiting for the contractor to put the asphalt down.  The cost to date is $141,904.43. 

Arnie reported the May bid for Spring Overlays had been completed at a cost of $371,776.84.  The second round of Overlays is yet to start, and will include Cardinal Drive, Kentwood Drive off 5 North, and Buttercup Drive.  There are also a couple cul-de-sacs in Northern Hills that will be done.  Jim asked Arnie how this new bidding process is working out.  Arnie told the Committee it is costing more, because of their bonding.  He said the first round was completed about 15 days past the completion date.  Jim asked who has the bid for the second round and Arnie said it was Dilbeck that would do the overlays.  He said White River/Atlas Asphalt had the first round.  The first bid was $78 per ton and this next bid is around $74 per ton. 

Maintenance for the month of August was at $10,816.74.  It will go back up to the $30,000 to $40,000 after the Overlays are completed.

The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.

Wide view of downtown Mountain Home