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Fourth Street work nearly done; city using leftover grant funds

The two-block streetscape improvement project in downtown Vandalia is nearing completion, and the city has discovered that the project will cost less than expected.
On Monday, it decided to use any leftover funds for other improvements downtown in the future.
Mayor Rick Gottman told the city council that the streetscape work in the 100 and 200 blocks of South Fourth Street is coming in under budget.
Thus, he said, the city will have left over some of the $648,250 in grant funds awarded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Development, and that he has received authorization to use those remaining funds.
The council agreed with Gottman’s recommendation to purchase more of the period street light fixtures like those along Gallatin Street and on the two blocks of Fourth Street. The city could also possibly purchase benches like those on Gallatin.
He said that the city can install those light standards on Fifth Street when it has the funds available for that work.
After being awarded the grant funds, the city looked into streetscape improvements on both Fourth and Fifth streets, and possibly Sixth Street, depending on the cost of the work.
The project was scaled back last August, once the city learned how much the project would cost.
Also at Monday’s meeting:
• The council approved the appropriations ordinance for the fiscal year May 1, 2013-April 30, 2014.
The spending for the new fiscal year totals a little more than $8.6 million, up by about $600,000 over the last fiscal year, Gottman said.
• The council authorized the police department to seek bids on two new squad vehicles, an SUV and a regular squad car.
Gottman said that the department included three new vehicles in this year’s budget. Police Chief Jeff Ray said that each of the two squad cars has more than 100,000 miles on the odometer.
• The council approved a $136,024.19 payment to Kinney Contractors for streetscape work on Fourth Street.
• The council agreed to increase the amount paid to HMG Engineers of Carlyle for work on the Fourth Street streetscape project from $50,000 to $65,000.
Gottman said that the firm asked for additional money due to the number of changes made in the project, and that HMG initially asked for an additional $30,000.
• The council agreed to ask the Illinois Department of Transportation for permission to close Gallatin Street (Old Ill. Route 140) from Third Street to Sixth Street from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, July 20-21, for the new Lincoln Heritage Festival.
That new festival will include skits at several locations that will tell about Vandalia’s capital days.
• The council approved an agreement with the Fayette County Fair Association for signage on the county fairgrounds in Brownstown.
The city will pay $160 for a grandstand sign and a lease fee of $125 for this year’s fair.
• Alderman Jerry Swarm, chairman of the council’s public safety committee, reported that the committee will meet at 4 p.m. this Thursday at city hall to discuss possible fire department equipment purchases.
• Alderman B. John Clark, chairman of the streets committee, reported that the committee will meet at 4:30 p.m. this Thursday at city hall to discuss the existing parking lot lease with Mother of Dolors Catholic Church.
 

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