Macomb was told it would get enough money in transportation grants to fund 100 percent of the cost of a downtown bus transfer station and parking lot. The city council found out Monday, April 4th that this was not the case.
City Administrator Dean Torreson reported that the low bid for construction was nearly $570,000 and this exceeds the grant amount by $70,000. Torreson said the city could pay the excess costs with funds from McDonough County Public Transportation and from a transportation account established with a 2004 payment from the Illinois Commerce Commission.
The city council then approved the low bid of Otto Baum Construction of Morton for the project on North Randolph Street near the Macomb Depot.
After the council meeting, Torreson said no consideration was given to rebidding the project.
“The cost estimate was from 2008, so it’s logical that construction costs would have increased,” the city administrator said. Mayor Mick Wisslead said the city still has $173,000 left from a $200,000 settlement with the ICC seven years ago when Macomb closed three railroad crossings.
In other business, aldermen voted to proceed with Illinois’ “fast track” procedures that would result in demolition of the remnants of the former Shade Tree trailer park near East Jackson Street at the end of the month. They also voted to seek bids for demolition and clean-up work.
April 18 has been set for a bid opening. The successful bidder will be asked to be ready to start work on or after May 1.
The council also approved soliciting bids for electrical work in Chandler Park. The bid opening for that project was set for April 19.
Aldermen voted to spend $12,000 on two pedestals and 10 decorative lighting bollards to have on hand when the electrical work begins. Heintz Electric Company of Keokuk was recognized as a sole source bidder for the materials.
The council also voted to spend $15,000 for a new water pump to be installed at the Spring Lake reservoir.
Aldermen voted to authorize the city’s application for state and federal reimbursement for work during the blizzard emergency of Feb. 1 and 2. Public Works Director Walter Burnett said Macomb can only submit costs over a 48-hour period and is eligible because both state and federal disaster emergencies were declared.
Burnett said the city spent $53,000 and could receive as much as $20,000 back.
He later said that would reimburse the city for the cost of hiring private contractors to clear snow away from the downtown square.
Wisslead said aldermen will discuss next week a proposal to raise base liquor license fees by 10 percent.
Also under consideration is a hike of $15 to $45 in the amount charged by the city to those who need laboratory analysis of water done by technicians at the Macomb Sewer Plant.
The council approved a new policy requiring plumbers to check in with the city before engaging in work that might intrude into the public portion of a property’s sewer or water connection, and aldermen denied a homeowner’s request for compensation for $900 in plumbing fees when it was discovered that the sewer line was blocked on the city’s side.
Alderman Clay Hinderliter said it is regretful that a no-fault ruling by the city’s insurance carrier left the homeowner with a large bill. He made this general statement: “If this is important to you as a homeowner, invest $50 in an insurance rider to increase protection against damage to your basement.”
The council heard first reading of the city’s proposed $34.5 budget ordinance for 2011-2012. A public hearing on the budget has been scheduled for April 11.
City resident Christie Davis told aldermen that property renters whose landlords don’t pay for recycling service can take their recyclables directly to Bridgeway.
She also asked if the city would consider providing Internet wi-fi service so groups using the Macomb City Hall community room would be able to use their laptop computers.