City to vote on $1.5M bid for public works building

FORT MADISON – Fort Madison city officials have put forth a recommendation to build a new public works building for just over $1.5 million.
At Tuesday’s regular Fort Madison City Council meeting, the city council will consider a bid from Schickedanz Construction out of Fort Madison for a 15,000 square foot building to be built in the 2100 block of Avenue M for $1,519,000. Original estimates for the building came in at $1.9 million two months ago.
The public works department will need the new building as the current facilities will be taken down to make room for the new fire station that is set to be built on that property starting next year.
The city received five bids on the project and opened those bids on Sept. 3. Bids ranged in price from $1.87 million to Schickedanz’s $1.5 million.

The city council debated whether the building would be big enough to house the entire public works department at a meeting in August. Public Works Director Mark Bousselot is advocating for a second building, or a Phase 2, that would create additional square footage. However, Councilman Rusty Andrews said the proposed building could be large enough to accommodate equipment and staff for the department. The city needs to build it and then take a hard look at how the space can be used.
Bousselot said the space would be enough for storage and most of the equipment, but likely will not be big enough to relocate the entire department including streets, water, roads, and parks. A public hearing will be held on the issue, prior to voting on the contract with Schickedanz.
The council is also scheduled to vote on purchasing a lot at 2016 Avenue M, owned by Cody Biggs, for $75,000. The lot will be used for additional space requirements at the city’s new public works facility, which is anticipated to have construction start this month.
In other action, the council will hold a discussion on possible updates to the city’s controversial rental and vacant property code.
The city requires the above properties to be registered, but there has been pushback where homes are being used by families of the deed holder that live in the home, but aren’t listed as property owners. The discussion will focus on whether or not those homes should be exempted from the property code. No action is scheduled as any changes will have to go before the city’s attorney for review.