The West Liberty City Council awarded a $441,570 contract to remodel the Waldo C. Myers city hall building on Tuesday, March 2, at their regular meeting, held from new temporary quarters at the WeLead/Regional Learning and Training Center on Third Street.
Engineers Veenestra & Kimm had estimated the project to cost $395,830 and the base bid by S.G. Construction of West Burlington was $400,516, but when the council voted to add two alternative plans to the construction, the cost rose to $441,570.
The only other bidder on the project, McComas-Lacina Construction of Iowa City, was $150,000 more at $597,000 for the total project. Bids were opened Feb. 18 concerning the project.
The engineers have significant experience with S.G. Construction and believed the company was well suited for the project, having completed a very similar project for the Fairfield City Hall and having construction experience in Burlington and Iowa City.
Tara Goldsberry of V & K was on hand at the meeting to answer any questions for the council. A meeting in the near future will set a timeline in completing the project.
The city has already moved their administrative staff from the building to their new headquarters at the WeLead/Regional Learning building at 119 East Third Street while the police department will remain in the building, being shuffled around as construction is completed in specific areas of the building.
The "phase one" of the construction includes an entire revamping of the inside of the building to include a new council chambers and offices for city staff members as well as an expansion of the police department. An eventual plan to build a new council chambers on the west side of the building is not being contracted at this time.
The alternative projects include a new look to the facade of the building including a concrete planter and flatwork project to the south side of the building as well as replacing an existing packaged air conditioning unit. Those projects will only be completed if there is enough funding according to city clerk Lee Geertz.
The project comes over a year following a break-down of a project on a third street building, construction crews having to take more of a two-story building at 115 East Third Street than anticipated after razing the rear portion of the building. After sinking more than $100,000 in the project, the city sold the building, which will soon undergo remodeling to create two upstairs apartments and retail space below for the new owners.
The city approved a resolution March 2 to sell that property for $18,000 to WLFE LLC, with the official closing to take place within 120 days. The company is owned by Frank Wagner and Emily Geetz, both local residents.
Approve sale of property
In other business, the city council also approved the sale of a condemned residential property at 505 East First Street on the southeast corner of the community, where a home had been destroyed by fire months ago.
The city sold the property for $9,000 to Ken Morrison of West Liberty, who plans to build a single-family home on the property this summer for resale. The lot surrounds a number of other single-family homes in the neighborhood.
Council members say they’ve also had lots of comments and e-mails concerning changes in the West Liberty Fire Department/EMS services.
Council members and city officials also complimented the work of the street department in clearing streets during the recent snow storms.
It was noted there were complaints of residents not shoveling their sidewalks, which was handled by interim police chief Dave Lira, city clerk Lee Geertz complimenting Lira at providing options for residents.
City helps bail out Texas
It was also pointed out by Geetz that during the recent Texas energy crisis caused by a deep freeze in the south, the West Liberty electric generator plant was asked to supply the national electric grid. Ed Turs Said the generator worked four 16 hour days supplying energy to the grid during the crisis. Mayor Robert Hartman said the generators have been used from time to time during the hot summer months in supplying additional energy, but never in February.
The city clerk also complimented the two-day move by city employees to the new temporary facility, complimenting Communications Director Nick Heath and city employees as “the muscle behind the move” and pointing out Heath “championed this whole project” to make sure everything was up and running smoothly in the new digs.
The city will also be installing a drop box in front of the We-Lead building for residents to drop payments since they won’t be able to do so during the remodeling process. A drop box is also still located near Casey’s General Store on the north end of West Liberty.
Planning & zoning business
In interim city manager Elizabeth Hansen’s report, a Planning and Zoning Committee meeting was set for March 8 to review an application for a proposed mixed R1-R3 residential development on the northwest side of the community. She said there is a lot to be done before construction can begin including development agreements, as well as an amendment to the Urban Renewal Plan to include the property.
The city also hoped to hear continuing plans on an apartment housing project by DeePak Giri on the southeast edge of the community, learning the project was delayed due to some changes with engineers who were working on the development. Leo Foley of V & K will be updating the council at their Tuesday, March 16 board meeting that begins at 7:30 p.m. in the WeLead headquarters.
Budget hearing set Tuesday
The city will also host a budget hearing on Tuewsday, March 16 to certify the tax levy rate and approve the fiscal year 2022 budget.
Hansen also said the city’s public safety committee is reviewing the draft of the golf cart/ATV/UTV ordinance and will provide feedback soon regarding the issue.
The city is also in the process of a search for a new city manager as well as a new police chief, Hansen reported. Advertising for a new police chief will be posted by April 9, with applications due by April 30. Interviews are set for June 10 for the police chief position.
Council members Diane Beranek and Dave Smith were appointed to the search committee for the new city manager. A timeline is being set for the hiring process.
Police keeping busy
It was also reported that interim polic chief Lira, officer Kim Halpain and officer Brian Neuberger received their first COVID-19 vaccinations.
The department has also adopted a “support pet,” a cat named Maul. Lira says the critter has “already invoked tremendous sympathy from the public.”
Regarding training in the police department, reserve officer Karen Ayala has completed her first reserve officer training module at Hawkeye Community College while also completing her NCIC certification, allowing her to have access to personal information like driver’s licenses and registrations.
Lira also reported several fuel thefts have occurred in February at the Giri BP involving the same subject. Photographed, the male was apprehended in two days by Johnson County Sheriff authorities. The local department is completing charges on the thefts as well as other violations by the offender.
The police department had 252 calls during February as well as three arrests. The city also inspected 28 vehicles during the month.
The West Liberty Fire and EMS crews saw 30 gold alert calls for the EMS team as well as seven fire calls, two of those structure fires that included a rural farm house.
It was also reported that the staff and volunteers of the city’s ambulance department was re-certified on Jan. 20 for another three years. Sandy Heick was credited for taking charge of that recertification process, chief Kirt Sickles pointing out “this takes a lot of hard work and staying on top of things.”
He also reported the department's 717 Ladder truck, which had issues with outriggers deploying, has been repaired and is back in service.