Van Buren approves new expenses for Rena Road
by January 23, 2012 9:26 pm 154 views
The Van Buren City Council approved an additional $102,490.78 in expenses for the repair of a collapsed sanitary sewer main east of Pointer Trail and Highway 59 at Monday night’s (Jan. 23) monthly meeting.
The adjustments were “due to unforeseen occurrences and obstacles that were presented in the repair project,” read ordinance number 3-2012, which amended number 18-2011 from last year.
The total expenditure for the project is now up to $569,675.78. When asked what “unforeseen occurrences and obstacles” meant, Jennifer Froud, administrative assistant to the Mayor’s Office, said a breakdown of the cost differential has not been received. Representatives of the Water and Sewer Department were not available Monday night for comment.
In addition to the sewer repair increase, the Rena Road project will also run $14,500 more than originally planned. According to documents from Hawkins-Weir Engineers, Inc., service provider on the contract, the deletion of a sidewalk and revisions of “Stage I and Stage II maintenance of traffic to reduce the Stage II maintenance of traffic lane width to 15 feet for one-way (west bound) traffic” are responsible for the added costs.
The council approved the expenditure unanimously and noted that work on the revisions will take four weeks to complete.
Also Monday night, the council approved the bid of NAFECO, Inc., of $7,246.50 to provide holsters for the Van Buren Police Department. Another $20,450 bid, from Cruse Uniforms and Equipment, Inc., was accepted for the provision of new duty pistols with three magazines per weapon and night sights included.
On the weapons expense, Van Buren Chief of Police Kenneth Bell told The City Wire existing weapons will bring a trade-in of $220 each, and he estimates close to 45 weapons will receive trade-in value, cutting the $20,450 figure in half.
In other business, the council approved the following street closings for 2012:
• March 10, 2012 — Run with the Knights 7th Annual 5K Run/Walk presented by the King School PTA;
• May 11-13 — Old Timer’s Day presented by the Old Time Merchants Association (OTMA);
• June 9, 2012 — OTMA Bike Show;
• Sept. 8, 2012 — OTMA Car Show;
• Oct. 12-14, 2012 — OTMA Fall Festival; and,
• Oct. 27, 2012 — OTMA Halloween on Main Street.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Van Buren City Council is set for Feb. 27, 2012.