City Council To Rebid Fire Hall Roof

No bids to repair the roof of Glasgow’s south side fire hall were received by the deadline last week.

Director of Public Works Bob Kompel said three contractors picked up bid packets. He was following up with two of them to ask why they chose not to bid the project. He recommended re-advertising the project with an increased length of time to complete the project to make it more desirable, saying the problem could be “nothing more than a scheduling conflict with only two potential bidders.”

At Monday’s Glasgow City Council meeting, Kompel said he had contacted a truss manufacturer who won’t stand behind the product as it is being specified in the contract because of expansion issues. Councilman Dan Durell said contractors do a splice all the time. Durell proposed changing the specifications for the metal trusses from 24 gauge to 26 gauge metal. He said the roof on the north side fire hall uses the thinner 26 gauge and most metal in buildings around here is an even thinner 29 gauge.

The city could save $20,000 by using the thinner metal trusses, he said.

The Council approved a motion by Councilman Becky Erickson to re-advertise the roofing project with the grade of metal changed from 24 gauge to 26 gauge.

City Attorney Dave Gorton’s contract will expire on June 30. He has informed the Council that he wants to retire at the end of the year and would like to continue the city’s work in criminal court until then, but not the civil issues. The Council discussed opening the position up to see what a prospective new city attorney would want. Action on renewing a revised agreement with Gorton for six months was tabled until the next meeting.

The Council authorized applying for two grants to fund long-range evaluation and planning for its drinking water production and distribution systems.

“We need to stay ahead of any issues down the road,” said Kompel. “It will probably be three or four years before we receive the funding.”

The city will apply for $15,000 from the Treasure State Endowment Program and $10,000 from the DNRC’s Renewable Resource Grant and Loan Program. Both grants require dollar for dollar matching funds.

The Council approved the sale of two narrow city lots on U.S. 2 between the old Assembly of God Church and the empty AlCan Motel for a minimum price of $25,000. Bidding for the 60-foot frontage will open July 1.

A resolution was passed establishing the terms of the members of the new City Planning Board. There will be not less than seven members: one City Council member, one member appointed by the City Council who may be an employee or public office holder in the city or county, one member appointed by the mayor upon designation by the Valley County Commissioners and four citizens who are residents of Glasgow.

The term is two years, with the terms of the first members to be staggered between one and two years.

The Council approved paying a new health insurance rate of $581 for FY 2013-2014 for all employees, union and non-union. This is $14 more than last year.

Austin Auction was the only bidder for the 36-foot Wells Cargo office trailer. The $1,300 bid, the minimum allowed, was taken under advisement.

Ezzie’s submitted the only bid for gasoline and diesel fuel for 2013-2014. The Council took the bid under advisement.