New officers selected for board
MONROE - Alderman Keith Ingwell was elected president of the Board of Public Works, and Mark Coplien was elected vice president of the board, in a Board of Public Works meeting Tuesday night.
MONROE -Four resolutions passed at Tuesday night's City Council meeting, but not without some division among the aldermen.
A resolution passed 6-4 to approve bids and award a contract to Iowa Grant Trucking, Livingston, for the 16th Avenue utilities replacement project at a cost of $176,159.28. Aldermen Charles Schuringa, Chuck Koch, Dan Henke and Thurston Hanson voted against the resolution.
Schuringa expressed concern about the large difference between the Iowa Grant bid and the other companies that were local and whose bids were closer to each other.
"I'm still hesitant about the $70,000 difference," he said. "Low bid is not always a good way to go. We have local contractors within a $1,000 of each other, and all of a sudden someone comes in with a (much lower bid). Cheap isn't always the way to go."
A resolution authorizing additional compensation of $1,606.50 for Touch & Go Aviation, because of "extraordinary" labor related to snow removal passed 7-3. Aldermen Mark Coplien, Jan Lefevre and Koch voted against the resolution. Coplien raised a question to explain the reason for his objection.
"There's no question, (Airport Supervisor) Robbie (Driver) does a great job, but ... did we get a rebate the last two to three years when we didn't get any snow? We had a contract," he said.
Another resolution also passed by a 7-3 margin. Coplien, Lefevre and Thurston Hanson voted against a resolution to accept a bid from and award a contract to Rock Solid Concrete, Monroe, for $59,812.50, for 2008 new sidewalk installation.
The contract doesn't not include "supplementary items." Hanson, Lefevre and Coplien have been opponents of the city's sidewalk installation policy in the past. Hanson stated after the meeting that his vote was for the same reason it always has been. Hanson has stated in the past that property owners should not be forced to pay for sidewalks that the city wants and that are used by everyone.
Hanson was alone in his vote against a resolution to accept a bid and award a contract for curb and gutter construction. The contract was awarded, on a 9-1 vote, to Schultz Construction Inc. of Edgerton at a cost of $33,812.42, not including supplementary items. Hanson said his vote was based on the fact that curb and gutter costs are included in 16th Avenue's reconstruction project, and are being assessed to property owners. Hanson's ward includes 16th Avenue.
The Monroe Common Council unanimously:
• Approved the re-appointment of Cathy Maurer, Jerry Dahlen and Jim Belke for a two-year term on the Ethics Board.
• Approved the reassignment of Chuck Koch as a member, and Neal Hunter as an alternate, to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee. The reassignment comes as an adjustment after Keith Ingwell's appointment to the Plan Commission.
• Approved new, increased Fire Department billing rates.
• Approved a donation to the American Legion for Memorial Day activities in the amount of $250.
• Authorized using $11,293 of the funds in the Senior Center Capital Reserve Account to pay for upgrades to the east entry way of the Senior Center.
• Authorized the use of TID 7 funds to pay for expenditures for the downtown Square survey preparations and outer walkway design, Phase 1.
• Approved the job descriptions for account clerk/deputy comptroller, and account clerk/deputy treasurer.
• Hired Diane Updike as a replacement confidential administrative assistant, effective May 8, 2008, at the rate of $12.50 her hour with a six-month probationary period.
• Approved payment of claims in the amount of $489,532.48.
• Approved the following special events: Monroe Rebel Soccer Dribble Across Wisconsin MAYSA Day, May 10; CARENET Pregnancy Center of Green County Walk for Life, May 10; American Legion Memorial Day Parade and Service, May 26.
• Granted an electrical Journeyman License to Robert J. Pagel, and an operator license to Amanda J. Edardson.
• Hired Fehr-Graham & Associates to provide surveying and design services for the outer walkway area of the downtown Square at an estimated cost of $37,700.
• Approved the adoption of a simplified water rate increase of 3 percent as outlined by the Public Service Commission's order on April 22, 2008.
• Approved the agreement with Carrico Aquatic Resources, Inc., under a self-perpetuating term for swimming pool operation and maintenance service for 2008 at the cost of $9,700.
• Approved the purchase and development agreement between the City of Monroe and Troy L. Ludwig and Paula J. Ludwig, of a parcel of property in the Monroe Business sand Industry Park.
A resolution passed 6-4 to approve bids and award a contract to Iowa Grant Trucking, Livingston, for the 16th Avenue utilities replacement project at a cost of $176,159.28. Aldermen Charles Schuringa, Chuck Koch, Dan Henke and Thurston Hanson voted against the resolution.
Schuringa expressed concern about the large difference between the Iowa Grant bid and the other companies that were local and whose bids were closer to each other.
"I'm still hesitant about the $70,000 difference," he said. "Low bid is not always a good way to go. We have local contractors within a $1,000 of each other, and all of a sudden someone comes in with a (much lower bid). Cheap isn't always the way to go."
A resolution authorizing additional compensation of $1,606.50 for Touch & Go Aviation, because of "extraordinary" labor related to snow removal passed 7-3. Aldermen Mark Coplien, Jan Lefevre and Koch voted against the resolution. Coplien raised a question to explain the reason for his objection.
"There's no question, (Airport Supervisor) Robbie (Driver) does a great job, but ... did we get a rebate the last two to three years when we didn't get any snow? We had a contract," he said.
Another resolution also passed by a 7-3 margin. Coplien, Lefevre and Thurston Hanson voted against a resolution to accept a bid from and award a contract to Rock Solid Concrete, Monroe, for $59,812.50, for 2008 new sidewalk installation.
The contract doesn't not include "supplementary items." Hanson, Lefevre and Coplien have been opponents of the city's sidewalk installation policy in the past. Hanson stated after the meeting that his vote was for the same reason it always has been. Hanson has stated in the past that property owners should not be forced to pay for sidewalks that the city wants and that are used by everyone.
Hanson was alone in his vote against a resolution to accept a bid and award a contract for curb and gutter construction. The contract was awarded, on a 9-1 vote, to Schultz Construction Inc. of Edgerton at a cost of $33,812.42, not including supplementary items. Hanson said his vote was based on the fact that curb and gutter costs are included in 16th Avenue's reconstruction project, and are being assessed to property owners. Hanson's ward includes 16th Avenue.
The Monroe Common Council unanimously:
• Approved the re-appointment of Cathy Maurer, Jerry Dahlen and Jim Belke for a two-year term on the Ethics Board.
• Approved the reassignment of Chuck Koch as a member, and Neal Hunter as an alternate, to the Judiciary and Ordinance Review Committee. The reassignment comes as an adjustment after Keith Ingwell's appointment to the Plan Commission.
• Approved new, increased Fire Department billing rates.
• Approved a donation to the American Legion for Memorial Day activities in the amount of $250.
• Authorized using $11,293 of the funds in the Senior Center Capital Reserve Account to pay for upgrades to the east entry way of the Senior Center.
• Authorized the use of TID 7 funds to pay for expenditures for the downtown Square survey preparations and outer walkway design, Phase 1.
• Approved the job descriptions for account clerk/deputy comptroller, and account clerk/deputy treasurer.
• Hired Diane Updike as a replacement confidential administrative assistant, effective May 8, 2008, at the rate of $12.50 her hour with a six-month probationary period.
• Approved payment of claims in the amount of $489,532.48.
• Approved the following special events: Monroe Rebel Soccer Dribble Across Wisconsin MAYSA Day, May 10; CARENET Pregnancy Center of Green County Walk for Life, May 10; American Legion Memorial Day Parade and Service, May 26.
• Granted an electrical Journeyman License to Robert J. Pagel, and an operator license to Amanda J. Edardson.
• Hired Fehr-Graham & Associates to provide surveying and design services for the outer walkway area of the downtown Square at an estimated cost of $37,700.
• Approved the adoption of a simplified water rate increase of 3 percent as outlined by the Public Service Commission's order on April 22, 2008.
• Approved the agreement with Carrico Aquatic Resources, Inc., under a self-perpetuating term for swimming pool operation and maintenance service for 2008 at the cost of $9,700.
• Approved the purchase and development agreement between the City of Monroe and Troy L. Ludwig and Paula J. Ludwig, of a parcel of property in the Monroe Business sand Industry Park.