CONRAD- The Conrad city council approved several key purchases including a used ambulance and swimming pool pumps and accepted a quote for re-roofing city hall due to last summer’s derecho during last Thursday night’s regular meeting.
Jordan Hoy of the Beaman-Conrad Emergency Response Team (BCERTs) spoke to the council over the phone and informed members that a 2010 ambulance vehicle from Saylorville (Iowa) Township was available for $17,000. Currently, Conrad’s long-term plan includes the purchase of a new vehicle at an estimated cost of $130,000.
“To me, it sounds like a deal we shouldn’t pass up,” Mayor Jeff Martin said.
In addition to the vehicle itself, the BCERTs would need to purchase a power cot, which can run over $30,000 new, but Hoy said he was working to find something used at a cost under $10,000. He also discussed the possibility of purchasing additional equipment, and the council ultimately approved buying the ambulance itself and exploring other add-ons at a later date by a 4-0 vote (Diane Miller was absent).
Martin then reported that the city would need to pay for the repair of four pool pumps at a cost of $14,584, and the council voted to approve a contract with Hupp Electric Motors. Councilman Todd Schnathorst asked why the park board had not communicated the need for a pump replacement sooner.
“This shouldn’t have been a surprise to us,” he said.
Later in the meeting, the council approved a city hall re-roofing quote of $23,556.99 from Freed Construction as a result of the derecho last August, and the cost will be paid out of the city’s insurance policy.
Forrest Aldrich of Veenstra and Kimm provided an update on the UV wastewater upgrade project and expressed hope that it will be wrapped up by May, and it should be ahead of schedule for the DNR requirement to be operational by July 1.
Engineer Luke Wilson gave an update on the Catherine Farmer housing addition and said that progress is being made on the bike trail at Alma and by the elementary school. The plan is to hold off on planting grass seed until Alliant has completed its utility installation, and Wilson reported that two light poles were on the night before the meeting.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, the council:
· Approved the consent agenda as listed.
