Council OKs Coles Street change order
In an abbreviated meeting that lasted only 35 minutes, the Vandalia City Council on Monday approved a minor change order on the Coles Street paving project and heard a positive report about the sale at auction of several used city vehicles.
The $2,143.11 change order was presented to the council by Scott Hunt of Hurst-Rosche Engineers.
Hunt said that the additional funds were needed to remove about 50 feet of old curb and guttering that was discovered under the existing roadway. It also would allow contractors to modify a driveway that had been paved too far out into the road, blocking the flow of water in the gutter.
The project, which is estimated to cost about $264,000, will pave Coles Street with concrete from St. Louis Avenue to the railroad overpass. It is a project that utilizes federal stimulus money.
The council approved the change order without dissent.
The project is to be completed by the end of June, but that can be altered if rain days delay the project, said Vandalia Mayor Rick Gottman.
Gottman also noted that four used city vehicles recently were sold at an auto auction in Mt. Vernon. Those vehicles, and the net price they brought, are: a 1992 Ford pickup, $261.25; a 1995 International dump truck, $1,757.50; a 2000 Ford Crown Victoria, $1,187.50; and a 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, $1,163.75.
John Moyer, director of public works for the city, said that the auction brought in more money than the previous method of soliciting sealed bids for the unwanted vehicles.
In the ongoing problem with the city’s water intake in the Kaskaskia River, Alderman Larry Cable reported that once the water level goes down, the city will hire a scuba diver to go into the river and check out the problems with the intake.
“We need to determine what we can do with it to get a reasonable fix,” said Gottman.
The mayor also reported that interviews will be held this week with the five finalists for the city manager position – three on Tuesday and two on Thursday.
The top two candidates will be brought back at a later date to meet with the city’s department heads. He said that he anticipated an offer would be extended to one of the candidates sometime in June.
Gottman also reported that he had held meetings with all the city’s department heads earlier on Monday, and that those individuals will be held more accountable for the spending within their departments.
“All department heads will get monthly budget reports,” Gottman said.
“We will start mailing them reports the first week in June, showing what went on in May. The department heads also will keep track of furlough days taken by their employees. That way, we all know what’s going on.”
City employees agreed this spring to have monthly furlough days for a six-month period, in exchange for the city agreeing not to have layoffs during that period.
Alderman Mike Hobler reported that a 4-feet-by-30-feet floating dock has been installed near the Vandalia Lake marina.
Also at the meeting, the council approved a Illinois Department of Transportation agreement for federal participation in the improvement of Gallatin Street between Seventh and Eighth streets.
The improvements will include new concrete pavement, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, decorative trees and brick pavers.
State Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and state Rep. Ron Stephens (R-Highland) each obtained $200,000 in funding for the project. Those state funds are sufficient to pay for all of the improvements in that one-block area north of the Fayette County Courthouse.
