East Central Reporter

City of Tuscola City Council met Sept. 25.

Here are the minutes provided by the council:

The regular meeting of the City Council was called to order with Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop, and Mayor Kleiss in attendance. Alderman Shoemaker was absent. Mayor Kleiss led the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Consent Agenda 

Mayor Kleiss went over the items on the consent agenda: 

Minutes of the September 11 meeting 

Financial report for August 2023 

Payment of bills totaling $88,182.87 

Day moved to approve the items on the consent agenda. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. Hoey moved to approve the consent agenda for September 25, 2023. Morris seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Mayor 

Mayor Kleiss thanked everyone who had a hand in the Tuscola Homecoming celebration. City Clerk - No Report 

City Treasurer - No Report 

City Attorney - No Report 

City Administrator - No Report 

Ordinances 

Mayor Kleiss presented an ordinance for council consideration. The ordinance concerns participation in the mutual aid box alarm system designed to coordinate and automate fire department mutual aid. Slaughter moved to approve ordinance 2023-0-10 an ordinance authorizing an intergovernmental agreement for participation in the mutual aid box alarm system (MABAS master agreement 2022). Brace seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Contracts and Agreements 

Mayor Kleiss ask for council action on a purchase agreement for replacement of our sewer cleaning/hydro excavation truck (vactor). The agreement lists a cost of $414,259.20, with trade in of our current vactor truck. Morris moved to approve the purchase agreement with Brown Equipment Company for a Sewer Equipment Company of America Model 900-ECO 9 Yard Combination Sewer Cleaner, at a cost of $414,259.20, with trade in of current vactor truck. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. Mayor Kleiss noted this is a very handy piece of equipment. 

Mayor Kleiss and Administrator Hoel briefly discussed the preliminary engineering and construction guidance agreement with James E Crane for the Washington, Parke, and North Central paving projects. Hoey moved to approve the MFT engineering agreement with James E Crane for design, bidding and construction engineering on the Washington, Parke, and North Central re-paving projects at the rate of 8% of the awarded contract. Slaughter seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Mayor Kleiss presented an amendment to the engineering agreement with Clark Dietz on the downtown alley improvements. This amendment is a not to exceed amount of $105,540.00, and covers cost overruns for landscape architect, electrical, temporary construction easements, and materials testing and observation. Rund moved to approve the amendment to the Clark Dietz engineering agreement for the downtown alley improvements, at a not to exceed cost of $105,540.00. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Sarah Bush Lincoln has asked for an extension to their agreement with the city to serve Peace Meals out of the Senior Citizens Center. Brace moved to approve the one year extension with Sarah Bush Lincoln for the Peace Meal Program through September 30, 2024. Day seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Administrator Hoel gave an update on the street shed/gun range building project. The original bids on this project were high, Hoel stated, and we felt this was due to the foundation plans. The city revised those plans to save on costs; however, the recommendation now is to go back to the original foundation plan of drilled piers supporting very large spread footings. The reason for this is the area is an old fill site that would not be stable enough for the revised foundation plan. Hoel added it is likely the architect and engineers would not sign off on the building if we do not have an adequate foundation. Slaughter moved to approve the change order with Wohltman Construction in the amount of $129,865.00, for additional foundation work on the street shed and gun range. Waldrop seconded. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

Other 

Mayor Kleiss noted the wooden play structure just south of the restrooms in Ervin Park is in bad shape and needs to be taken down. Administrator Hoel added this is not the Prairieland Pride structure, but the wooden bridge/slide play area. Hoel went on to say there are funds in the budget for playground equipment and it is possible some Cashford Funds could be used to purchase a replacement structure. 

The motion to adjourn was made by Morris and seconded by Day. VOTE YEA* Brace, Day, Hoey, Morris, Rund, Slaughter, Waldrop. 

https://tuscola.org/file/1217