MONROE - The Monroe Common Council moved the parking ramp fix-up project to the top of the to-do list Tuesday, Nov. 5, for a cost of about $60,000.
The expense will come out of a $68,000 reserve, made up of unused funds rolled over from the 2012 and 2013 parking ramp budgets. The city had expected to use those funds in 2014 or 2015 for contracted services to design a replacement ramp.
The refurbishing includes replacing the canopy lights with wall packs with LED lighting for $9,000; replacing windows in existing doors and aluminum frames with polycarbonate for $6,800; repairing the bottom pivots on two doors for $327; and washing and painting the interior and exterior of the building for $44,000.
The low quotes for the repairs came in from Gentz Electric, Monroe Glass, and Excel Cleaning and Maintenance.
The votes to invest the money in the ramp were not unanimous.
What began as one motion combining all three quotes, offered by Michael Boyce, was later divided into three motions. The motion to divide the question, made by Louis Armstrong and seconded by Chris Beer, passed by a 5-4 vote. Armstrong said the added lighting would suffice to brighten the interior and, therefore, he would vote against painting the inside of the building.
Brooke Bauman took the lead to make the three motions. The motion, seconded by Chris Beer, to hire Gentz Electric for $9,000 passed 8-1, with Tyler Schultz voting against.
The motion, seconded by Boyce, to hire Monroe Glass for $7,126 passed 8-1, with Schultz against.
The motion, second by Boyce, to hire Excel for $44,000 passed 5-4, with Schultz, Beer, Armstrong and Bauman voting against.
An earlier suggestion to use volunteers for some of the work, particularly painting, was deemed by city staff to be a liability because of the risk of slipping and of coming into contact with highly acidic detergents needed to remove the contaminants from the ramp walls.
Al Gerber, city engineer supervisor, said the lighting and window replacements could be completed possibly yet this year, but painting would most likely have to wait until spring.
The ramp is being spruced up in time for the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days in September 2014. After the event, the city expects to proceed with removal and replacement of the ramp. The fix-up and replacement timeline was suggested by members of Main Street Monroe and Monroe Downtown Business Improvement District.
The expense will come out of a $68,000 reserve, made up of unused funds rolled over from the 2012 and 2013 parking ramp budgets. The city had expected to use those funds in 2014 or 2015 for contracted services to design a replacement ramp.
The refurbishing includes replacing the canopy lights with wall packs with LED lighting for $9,000; replacing windows in existing doors and aluminum frames with polycarbonate for $6,800; repairing the bottom pivots on two doors for $327; and washing and painting the interior and exterior of the building for $44,000.
The low quotes for the repairs came in from Gentz Electric, Monroe Glass, and Excel Cleaning and Maintenance.
The votes to invest the money in the ramp were not unanimous.
What began as one motion combining all three quotes, offered by Michael Boyce, was later divided into three motions. The motion to divide the question, made by Louis Armstrong and seconded by Chris Beer, passed by a 5-4 vote. Armstrong said the added lighting would suffice to brighten the interior and, therefore, he would vote against painting the inside of the building.
Brooke Bauman took the lead to make the three motions. The motion, seconded by Chris Beer, to hire Gentz Electric for $9,000 passed 8-1, with Tyler Schultz voting against.
The motion, seconded by Boyce, to hire Monroe Glass for $7,126 passed 8-1, with Schultz against.
The motion, second by Boyce, to hire Excel for $44,000 passed 5-4, with Schultz, Beer, Armstrong and Bauman voting against.
An earlier suggestion to use volunteers for some of the work, particularly painting, was deemed by city staff to be a liability because of the risk of slipping and of coming into contact with highly acidic detergents needed to remove the contaminants from the ramp walls.
Al Gerber, city engineer supervisor, said the lighting and window replacements could be completed possibly yet this year, but painting would most likely have to wait until spring.
The ramp is being spruced up in time for the 100th anniversary of Cheese Days in September 2014. After the event, the city expects to proceed with removal and replacement of the ramp. The fix-up and replacement timeline was suggested by members of Main Street Monroe and Monroe Downtown Business Improvement District.