The Houston City Council met in the council chambers of Houston City Hall at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 10, 2017, for their regular meeting. In attendance were Mayor Dave Olson, City Administrator Christina Peterson, Deputy Clerk Audrey Hegland, and council members Emily Krage and Kevin Knutson. Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Mayor Olson opened the meeting to public comment, where a citizen commented in favor of the removal of a second-floor balcony on a local house. Administrator Peterson made three changes to the posted agenda, moving one item to after the budget update and adding two items regarding the community center kitchen and a letter of resignation from the Houston Nature Center.
The council then moved on to hear from Brian Malm of Bolton & Menk regarding the bid results from the Prairie Meadows Improvement Projects. Malm reported he received four bids for the project on July 6, 2017, and the engineers estimate of the project was “just under $314,000.” Malm went on to say that the bids ranged from $354,000 and $449,000, which was higher than the engineer’s estimate due to underestimated costs of de-watering on the project. Malm recommended the $354,103.75 bid from Alcon Construction out of Rochester for council approval. Malm then detailed the project schedule, saying that the estimated completion date for the project is set for October 15, 2017, covering everything but some final asphalt work that can be delayed under warranty until June 15, 2018 to adjust for any settlement of the utility tunnels. The council voted unanimously to approve the Alcon bid, and Malm will return to the city with the contracts.
Malm & Peterson also spoke briefly regarding the city’s drinking water treatment project. After speaking to the funding agency, Peterson reported that the Republican-controlled legislature did not approve a “big enough pot of money” for the Houston project to go ahead this year. Peterson did note that Houston would be “on the top of the list for next year,” and additional Small Cities funding already secured would be able to be extended until next year due to the government funding being cut. Malm noted that even if Houston was at the top of the list, it would still turn on whether or not a bonding bill would be passed by the government the next time around.
“If you’re talking to your legislators,” Malm commented, “let them know how important it is that you didn’t get the funding.”
The city will be looking to re-bid for the water project for next year, and is looking to see what cost savings can be made for future bids. The council then approved a purchase agreement for Prairie Meadows in the event of selling the new and improved lots in the development. Peterson mentioned that they had already had a couple “very interested in buying a lot or two” in the new area to build a house, and this purchase agreement for the lots will be reviewed by the potential buyers after council approval. The agreement sets a price for the purchase, which Peterson noted the council can change for future purchases, and has other regulations put forth regarding the length of the building time and the combination of two lots for purchase, but not three or greater.
Next, the council discussed the closure of a section of Henderson Street for a Valley View Foundation event. Administrator Peterson noted that the section of the street was still under city control, and the council voted unanimously to approve the closure for the event. Administrator Peterson then detailed the Small Cities Development Program grant money received by the city totaling $942,900. $600,000 will be reserved and extended for the water project, and $300,000 has been allotted for housing rehab administered by Semcac. The funds are equal to a maximum of 15 houses at $20,000 each if all improvements meet qualifications upon application. Finally, $42,900 will be given to Semcac for the administration of the housing rehab project.
The city moved on to approve a tort limit waiver for its property and liability insurance, and discuss budget updates, with Administrator Peterson noting that the city seemed to be on track with its budget plans for the year. The council voted unanimously to approve payment for manhole repair on Cedar Street, also voting to move the available funds from the Water Fund into the Sewer Fund to cover the expense. The council then accepted the resignation letter of financial officer Larry Jerviss, to be in effect as of December 31, 2017, and began the process of finding and training a replacement for the accounting position. The council approved paying half of the $200 cost to install a new electrical outlet at the community center at the request of the Lions organization, and accepted another letter of resignation from Connie Verse, a worker at the Houston Nature Center. The Nature Center, as reported by manager Sue Wiegrefe, also received a strong commendation from a cycling enthusiast who stopped to use the shower facilities on July 8 after putting in a 95-mile ride through the Root River Trail.
The Houston City Council will meet next at City Hall at 6 p.m. on Monday, August 14, 2017.
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