PHOTO BY JOHN FRYMAN / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
BUILDING ISSUES … Bryan City Clerk Treasurer John Lehner (left) and Mayor Carrie Schlade (right) discuss the unexpected plumbing issue involving the fire and police department building at its council meeting on Monday, June 15.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereportercom
Bryan City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 15. Council members present were Mary Leatherman, John Betts, Stephen Alspaugh, Jim Kozumplik, and Richard Hupe.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited followed by the approval of meeting minutes from June 1.
Council awarded two contracts with M&M Asphalt of Edon for a pair of street improvement projects in the city.
The first project involves the improvement of West Trevitt Street and part of the 100 block of East Bement Street at a cost of $285,690.25 with the completion date is the end of October. The engineer’s estimate was $369,212.80.
Other bids submitted for the project were S & S Directional Boring ($323,800.00), Bryan Excavating ($340,921.10), and Ebony Construction ($367,050.40).
“We’re taking out everything between the curbs, but the 100 block of West Trevitt Street we’re leaving the curbs, the second block we’re taking everything out, the curb and gutter and replacing it and putting in a storm sewer,” said city engineer Brian Wieland.
Wieland mentioned the 100 block of East Bement Street; the water department had recently replaced a water main, but the city had waited to actually bid for the project, so they are going to wrap it up of replacing the street.
The other project involves the improvement of Rolland Street and Baker Street from West High Street to West Bryan Street with M&M Asphalt doing the work at a cost of $515,683.25. The engineer’s estimate was $579,586.70.
Other bids submitted were S & S Directional Boring ($584,000.00), Bryan Excavating ($587,314.10) and Gerken Paving, Inc. ($657,622.25).
Wieland said it will involve the removal of curbs, gutters, and streets, but will also replace a storm sewer over the sanitary sewer, so when it’s done, it will have a new sidewalk, new curbs and gutters.
Council authorized clerk treasurer John Lehner to issue a final change order to Vernon Nagel, Inc of Napoleon of $3,750 for the South Walnut Street area sanitary sewer improvements. The change order also lowered the total cost for the project at $414,879.73.
Lehner reported there was an unanticipated significant plumbing issue at the police and fire department building that needs to be repaired at a cost of $14,982 with a local contractor going to fix it.
He added the repair cost will be split between both departments and requested the council to appropriate the money to cover the repairs despite the city not planning on this unexpected expense at all.
Fire Chief Doug Pool said both departments share a first-floor restroom with plumbing issues involving a soil pipe. The building was opened in 2012.
“We repaired a leak late last year and when they investigated the pipe, we apparently got some bad material when it was built,” said Pool.
“We got large sections throughout the first floor that were actually flaking off on the inside. Before we have a leak with a six-inch pipe, we want to get this taken care of.”
Mayor Carrie Schlade said when the budget committee met, there was discussion of tightening the city’s financial belt and line items following the unexpected repair cost.
“Knowing that if something like this would happen, we would have to come in and ask for an appropriation of funds because we don’t leave excess in the budgets anymore,” the mayor added.
“So, this is a perfect example of when that may happen on those unexpected maintenances, and we have no way to budget for.
“We just don’t leave money in our line items anymore for those. Again, the public is going to know because we don’t have that extra in, and that’s going to change.
“The council is going to ask, and we absolutely respect and understand that, and the public should be aware of this.”
Council accepted a donation of $5,600 from various sponsors to the Parks and Recreation Department for the Fountain City Amphitheater.
A building permit for Tyson King was approved. King is remodeling the second floor of a building on 113-115 South Main Street for five new apartments. The total cost of the project is $1,090,143.
Council then adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Next meeting is Monday, July 6 at 5:30 p.m.