City to vote on purchasing property

FORT MADISON – The Fort Madison City Council will be considering the purchase of two blocks of property along 21st Street at its regular meeting Tuesday.
City Manager Laura Liegois is recommending the purchase of property at 1313 and 1315 21st Street at a cost of about $88,000 to give the city access to a new salt storage building.
According to a report from Liegois, city officials were initially discussing a pay option to use the property to access the facility that will be needed for winter snow and ice control.
“However, in our conversations, the opportunity to purchase both properties was brought forward to the city,” she wrote in the report recommending the purchase.
The 1315 21st Street address would cost the city $10,000 and would be used for a road entrance. The city would then pay $78,000 and take ownership of the second lot at 1313 21st Street within one year of the signed agreement.
Funds will come from the public works budget.
The council will also be considering a change order to the Avenue L project from 20th to 30th Streets. Jones Contracting Corp. won the original contract with a bid of $2,415,777. Previous change orders moved the price to $2,523,907 and this change order of $53,331 will take the cost to $2,577,238.
The change order includes manhole  quantities and driveway work, over depth patches, roof drain connections, and intake adjustments.
The meeting will also include several closed sessions to discuss a real estate sale or purchase, and two issues that are presently in litigation with the city.
Fort Madison Mayor Matt Mohrfeld will also read a proclamation declaring September Fort Madison Heritage Month.
Tuesday’s meeting starts at 5:30 p.m at Fort Madison Council Chambers.