City to vote on next phase of Hwy. 61 work

Group forms to look at redesigning City's flag

BY CHUCK VANDENBERG
PCC EDITOR

FORT MADISON - A public hearing and vote on the proposed $8 million spend on the next phase of the city's rehabilitation of Business 61 through Fort Madison will be in front of the Fort Madison City Council Tuesday night,

The next section of the work will include 10th to 18th Streets and is the third phase of the work after 2nd to 6th Streets, and 6th to 10th.

The Iowa Dept. of Transportation opened two bids for the project on Feb. 15. Engineering estimates from HRGreen of Cedar Rapids came in at $6.34 million and the lowest bid was from Jones Contracting Corp. of West Point was $7.96 million, a 26% increase from the estimate.

Hawkeye Paving Corp. out of Bettendorf submitted a bid of $9.35 million.

City Public Works Director Mark Bousselot and City Manager David Varley are recommending the bid from Jones Contracting.

The city has a state Surface Transportation Program grant for $1.25 million and the remaining $6.72 million will come from bond proceeds to finish the work.

The project will consist of reconstructing the highway along with replacing watermains, storm sewers, and sanitary sewers within the project area.

In an unrelated issue, a city group is undertaking a plan to hold a contest for redesigning the city's flag.

Councilwoman Donna Amandus is leading the effort to replace a flag that is not quite 10 years old. She said the flag doesn't work well with new holders placed by the Fort Madison Beautification Committee. More details on a city wide contest to design the flag is expected following Tuesday's meeting.

The council will also be considering raising the cost of nuisance abatement fees from $40/hour to $60/hour. Varley said the increased rate would attract more contractors. The rates are charged to homeowners and, with the added contractors, the city would be able to clean up more nuisance issues.