January 19, 2004
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City accepts bid for Well #1 repairs
Monday, January 19, 2004 Posted 9:00 p.m.
The Minonk City Council approved a bid of $6,580.23 by Albrecht Well Drilling of Ohio, Illinois
to repair Well #1. The well quit working two weeks ago but is not necessary to provide the current water
needs of the community. City Administrator Trent Smith said that the bid estimates are at the high
end of the pricing depending on what the drillers find when they pull the well. The other two estimates were
from Layne Western at $8,635.50 and Meadow Equipment at $12,583.40.
Ambulance Squad discussion
Mayor Mark Spencer said that there have been 6 options discussed as potential solutions to the
ambulance funding problem. Alderman Russell Ruestman wanted to know if the current ambulance revenues
are realistic since they have increased substantially this past year. City Administrator Trent Smith said
the revenues are realistic. Mayor Spencer told the council that he wants a decision to be made at the
next council meeting on the ambulance funding crisis. Spencer said everyone should review the
options and consider other alternatives or additions before the next meeting.
MFT Resolution passed
The council passed a resolution that will allow the city to spend up to $372,383.25 for the Chestnut
Street Overlay project this year. City Administrator Trent Smith noted that the estimate is more than
the city presently has in the MFT fund but IDOT will allow the city to borrow from what will be received
the following year. Smith also noted that the estimate is notably high. He said that contractors
will be bidding on the I-39 overpass this year which may result in a contractor lowering bids for both
projects since both projects will be in the same area. The bid requests will include the resurfacing of the
downtown parking lot. An alternative bid will also be made for upgrading the tennis courts. Funding for
the tennis courts will not come from the MFT fund. If the tennis court bid is too high, that project will
be dropped until next year.
Electronic water meter readers
Public Works Supervisor Charlie McGuire told the council that the city is installing radios on water meters
that will allow the meters to be read remotely from the city truck. This new technology will speed up meter
reading and also will be more accurate. It also will be able to detect if there is a malfunction in the
meter. McGuire said that the data from the meter reader can be read electronically into the city's computers
to update the water records.
Finance Committee meeting
City Administrator Trent Smith presented a preliminary capital budget for the city. Noted was a $6,000
inclusion for a new public works building. Smith and Public Works Supervisor Charlie McGuire have been
in discussion with John Oncken and Les Carls concerning the purchase of their large metal building located
at the end of Oak Street. Oncken and Carls are proposing a ten-year lease to own an option on the building.
The final price is yet to be determined but is estimated to be between $60,000 and $90,000. The
committee decided that this purchase would be made a priority in the new budget.
Smith also said that $2,000 is being included for the nutrition center group. The committee determined
that the businesses or Businessmen's Association should be responsible for the cost of the Christmas lights
in the downtown area.
Parks and Recreation
The Parks and Recreation committee agreed to pursue the possibility of a Park District. Bob Hakes discussed
the matter with the committee. In order to form a Park District next year, it would have to be on the the
next ballot. Hakes is going to get more information and report back to the committee on how to proceed.
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