CITY OF FORT SCOTT
SPECIAL CITY COMMISSION MEETING
Minutes of February 12th, 2021 Special Meeting #5
A special meeting of the Fort Scott City Commission was held February 12th, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. in the City Commission Meeting Room, 123 S. Main Street, Fort Scott, Kansas.
ROLL CALL:
Commissioners Kevin Allen, Pete Allen, and Randy Nichols were present with Mayor Josh Jones presiding. Lindsey Watts was absent.
AUDIENCE IN ATTENDANCE: Travis Shelton, Michael Mix, and Michael Hoyt.
CONSIDERATION:
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Consideration of Change Order #1-Sanitary Sewer Cleaning & Video Inspection Services – Michael Mix informed the Commission that he has some figures for equipment if the City Commission would decide to go that direction. He said after thinking about this last night, it is still his recommendation to allow the company, Pipe Detectives, to complete their work. They have two weeks left until the project is finished. They have the specialty equipment that the City does not have. It will take a City crew much longer than that to complete. He also spoke to the supervisor on this job who told him that they only had 30 minutes of looking for a manhole and all the other charges were root removal. His City crew did find as many manholes as possible. Michael shared some photos of the lines with roots in them and then the lines after they had been cleaned.
Michael said that it would cost between $100,000 and $130,000 for a camera truck. An easement machine would cost approximately $45,000. The attachments which would include larger saws would cost approximately $11,800. Michael said that the work this company is doing in removing roots should last at least 5 years.
Kevin asked if the attachments could be put on the City’s vactor truck.
Michael thought that they could be placed on the truck.
Pete asked how more 30” lines there are.
Michael said he does not know. This company was hired to inspect the larger lines since the City does not have the equipment to do so. He said that there is 17,000 linear feet left to inspect that is greater than 15”. Last year there was 1.4 miles completed. It is a never-ending cycle. Inspect, document, rehab, and repeat.
Randy said that he thinks it makes more sense to let this company finish up this project since they only have two weeks left. This will help with the sewer overflow issues that we have been having with this company removing the roots. He isn’t sure that Michael had time to get all the numbers he needed to present to them. He doesn’t think we have enough information to buy equipment and then train our people when we have a crew that could finish it in two weeks. His vote is to let the company finish the work they have started.
Josh asked how critical it is to have this project completed in two weeks. If it is not critical, Michael could do some more research and get more numbers for them to look at.
Michael said if we had unlimited funds, it would be better do this in-house with a City crew. His recommendation is still to let this company finish this project.
Kevin said that we have two guys right now and would need a third person for this crew.
City Manager said that he can see both sides of this. He can see where it looks attractive to have the project finished in two weeks. It would also be great if the City had the equipment and could do the work ourselves. He said that we will execute what you decide as a Commission for us to do.
Pete said that we should have taken the $30,000 and bought equipment. Now we are back to square one and it’s not working. He referenced the street project on National for the crack sealing which is still not completed. He asked Michael if he had verified the 51 hours of work that this crew has completed.
Michael said that he has not watched all 51 hours, but he has watched some of it. Our own crew can get into the 8” or below manholes.
Josh said that is why shouldn’t buy the equipment if there is only 25% of the project left to complete. We won’t have to reinspect for 5 years.
Michael explained to the Commission that this project was bid as a unit/rate bid and not a total bid. This bid was comprised by the City’s former engineer, Nate Stansberry.
R. Nichols made a motion to approve Michael’s recommendation to finish this project and to have the City Manager clarify the issues with equipment needed for future projects so the City crew can do the work themselves. J. Jones seconded. R. Nichols and J. Jones voted aye. K. Allen and P. Allen voted no. Motion did not pass.
DENIED MOTION TO APPROVE MICHAEL MIX’S RECOMMENDATION TO FINISH THIS PROJECT AND HAVE THE CITY MANAGER CLARIFY THE ISSUES WITH EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR FUTURE PROJECTS SO THE CITY CREW CAN DO THE WORK THENMSELVES.
Discussion was held to bring back more numbers and discuss this at an upcoming work session.
ADJOURNMENT:
J. Jones moved to adjourn the special meeting at 2:00 p.m. K. Allen seconded. All voted aye.
ADJOURNED MEETING AT 2:00 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Diane K. Clay, M.M.C.
City Clerk