City OKs inspection amendment on Hwy 61 work

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A pitch from the Fort Madison Mayor to let a contract for engineering inspection lapse on the next phase of the Hwy. 61 project was missed by the City Council.

At Tuesday's regular meeting of the Fort Madison City Council, Public Works Director Mark Bousselot spoke about his recommendation to allow HR Green to move inspection services on the project from 28 hours per week to 40 hours per week.

The inspector was going to share time between two different projects, but the city now will only have one project going on at that time. HR Green planned to share the cost of the inspector between the two projects, but with the other project being put on hold, the inspector will now be able to dedicate full time to observing the 10th to 18th project.

Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld said HR Green said in the contract the city has already approved for the project that they could handle the inspections in 24 hours per week, but now need 40 just because they can't split the cost.

The issue came up several weeks ago at a previous council meeting, but in that discussion HR Green wanted to go to 40 hours and add 5 weeks of inspections prior to the start of the project.

"This discussion is similar to what we had a couple weeks ago. But this one doesn't include the additional five weeks. This is more or less bringing our inspection from 24 hours to 40 hours per the original time period we have coverage on the project," Bousselot said.

The amendment increases the cost of the project to $105,895. Bousselot said he recommended approving the amendment

"I'm going to trust the experts," said councilman Rebecca Bowker.

"I don't," Mohrfeld said. "Because the experts put right in their contract that they could the job in 24 hours. The people that spec'd the job put in their contract they will do it for that without any caveat.

"It would be far-fetched for them to recommend 24 hours and then ask for a change order before the thing even gets put into motion. This is their numbers. This is a binding contract."

Councilwoman Donna Amandus asked what the extra 16 hours would be used for. Bousselot said it would be to have the inspectors on site.

Bowker said they approved the contract, but if they stick to the current hours and there's a problem down the road, the city will complain that they didn't see it.

"I think it's needed for the city," Bousselot said.

Mohrfeld said if the city didn't vote to extend the inspection time, HR Green could let that part of the contract fall off and the city could then hire an inspector at a possible savings.

Bowker said why would the city use money already allocated with the company contracted to pay for another inspector.

"We have a public works director asking us to approve this because he feels it's necessary. I for one support the city staff. If Mark's on board with it, I'm on board with it."

The council approved the inspection amendment 4-2 with Kevin Rink and Tom Schulz voting against the amendment.

In other action, the council:
• approved the maximum tax levy for property taxes within the city at $15.06/$1,000 including the city's debt service levy of $1.64/$1,000.
• approved hiring Impact7G Inc. to do an environmental impact study on the Humphrey building to assess asbestos and lead paint presence in the building at a cost of $22,570 that is reimbursable at 100% by the Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources.
• approved a change order on the Hwy. 61 6th to 10th street phase for $38,846 for grinding of a curb, the addition of a new intake, adding a section of chain link fencing, decorative landscape rock, reconnection of existing water lines, and sump pump connections.
• appointed Carmen Salazar to the Fort Madison Housing Authority to fill a current spot expiring June 3, 2023.