City may see $500K savings on Avenue H project

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison City Council will hold its regular meeting Monday night so as not to interfere with the city’s School/City general election on Tuesday.
The Council will consider a change order to the Hwy. 61 reconstruction project from 10th to 18th Streets. But the change order will actually reduce the contract by close to half a million dollars.
Fort Madison Public Works Director Mark Bousselot teased the council two weeks ago about a change order that could reduce the overall project cost.
According to a report filed with the council on Friday, the fourth change order on the project will reduce the overall cost of the project by $492,722, a rare occurrence in city projects over the past six years.
The original cost of the project, which was awarded to Jones Contracting of West Point, was just under $8 million at $7,956,777. Previous change orders bumped the contract up slightly to $7,962,267, or about $5,500.
The new total contract amount will be for $7,469,545. A report from HR Green Inc., the city’s engineer on the Hwy. 61 project, a quantity reconciliation that balances the amount of quantities actually used on the project resulted in the adjustment.
The council will also be considering a change order on a separate project. The Fort Madison Marina’s asphalt paving. The council originally approved a contract in the amount of $525,216 with Norris Asphalt Paving Co, on June 6. Due to a change in the projected square footage of asphalt to be put down, a change order in the amount of $227,712 will be considered for approval, increasing the cost of the project to $752,928.
The city has a 25-year lease with the non-profit Southeast Iowa Aquatic Restoration Group, Inc. As part of the lease agreement, the non-profit reimburses the city for the cost of the asphalt paving.
In other action, the council:

• will consider a second reading of an ordinance amending the city’s code with new language implementing the International Property Maintenance Code as part of a new Dangerous Buildings Chapter.
  • will consider the final reading of an ordinance rezoning property north of 2205 48th Street from R-1 to I-2 General Industrial District to accommodate the new PAW Animal Shelter.
• will consider a resolution to accept a bid for city property at 1730 Avenue H, (the former Jiffy Lube) from Kapo Realty, Ltd., in the amount of $155,000 in the event that no other acceptable bids are received. Bids should be submitted to the city by Dec. 8 at 1 p.m. Bids will be presented to the City Council on Dec. 19.