A favorable bid for the Wayne Seventh Street Trail Project was the highlight of Tuesday's meeting of the Wayne City Council.
A total of nine bids were received for the project, which includes installing a trail along the north side of Highway 35 from Western Ridge to Pheasant Run.
Roger Protzman with JEO Consulting told the council that having this many bids was "somewhat unusual and contractors are willing to go farther for work."
He recommended the council approve the bid of $575,569.65 from Gehring Construction & Ready Mix, Co., Inc. from Columbus. JEO has worked with this firm in the past on projects in other locations.
The engineer's estimate for the project was $880,000, a figure that did allow for additional work to be done on a driveway along the project.
Council members approved Payment No. 16 in the amount of $123,536 to Otte Construction Company, LLC for the Wayne City Hall & Police Relocation Project.
Bob Soukup with Carlson West Povondra Architects told the council he was on site to inspect the project on Feb. 12 and gave an update on the work that has been done. He also gave a tentative timeline on when the city staff could be able to start the move to the new facility.
He plans to do another site visit on March 12 to create a 'punch list' of items that sill need to be completed. He said getting the data systems in place, both for the city offices and police department, are among the items still needing to be completed.
Certificate of Payment No. 6 in the amount of $135,699 to Otte Construction Company, LLC for the Wayne Parks & Rec Maintenance Building was approved.
Soukup also spoke on this project and said work had slowed down due to weather and cold temperatures, but anticipates it will pick up in coming weeks.
The payment reflects work that has been completed.
A change order in the amount of $186,926.45 to Cooney Fertilizer, Inc. for the Wayne Prairie Park Phase I Grading Project was approved and the certificate of Payment No. 5 (final) in that same amount were approved.
Matthew Smith with Olsson, the engineer on the project, was at council to discuss the change and noted that "there is nothing new from what we have talked about. We are just bringing it back for approval."
Council discussion centered on the delays in the project, which resulted in needing more rock for the area, and other changes that resulted in this change order.
Smith noted that Olsson took some responsibility for the mis-communication on this portion of the project and said his firm was wiling to give the city a $23,000 credit for future engineering projects.
Council members then approved the resolution which will accept the completion of project and allow City Finance Director Beth Porter to submit paperwork for grant funding the city received for a portion of the project.
In other action, council members approved a request from Wayne State College to waive rental fee for the Wayne City Auditorium. The group plans to hold a Trivia Night Fundraiser on Friday, April 4 at the Auditorium.
Head Soccer Coach Emily Hester and Wayne State Athletic Director Mike Powicki came before council with the request.
Hester told the council the group has had this fundraiser for several years as an attempt to raise funds for the student athletes. She said the first year the group had rented the auditorium, the rental fee was $150 but the last two years the fee has been $300. She also talked about ways the soccer team is involved in the community, including running the youth soccer program and assisting with the electronics recycling event.
Council member Matt Eischied, who was running the meeting in the absence of Mayor Cale Giese and Council President Jill Brodersen, said there have not been many requests to waive the fee for use of the auditorium and was concerned that doing so would encourage other organizations and groups to ask for the same consideration.
Following discussion, council voted to approve the request, noting that the group, while technically a non-profit organization, could have paid the lower fee that last two years.
The final item on Tuesday's agenda involved a presentation by Dave Peterson with JEO Consulting Group on the proposals submitted for the Southwest Power Pool Market Participant duties.
This item took place in executive session and will again be brought to the council for recommendations at a future meeting.
The Wayne City Council will next meet in regular session on Tuesday, March 18 at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers.
