Prater Equipment Company, Inc. of Comanche, Texas was awarded the bid to re-pave part of Coggin Avenue for the amount of $78,459 during Tuesday’s meeting of the Brownwood City Council.
According to City Manager Bobby Rountree, the project was approved as part of the Phase II streets project, and includes a one-inch asphalt overlay on a portion of Coggin Avenue, from Austin Avenue to 13th Street. David Harris, City of Brownwood Assistant Division Director of Public Works, stated that the project stops at 13th Street due to the remainder of the street, from 14th Street to Hwy 377, being reconstructed in the past several years and did not warrant the repairs.
To reduce the cost of the project, the city will furnish material (hot mix) at an estimated cost of $140,000 and will complete a seal coat to seal cracks, block moisture and will adhere the hot mix to the existing road.
The project has a completion date on or before August 1, 2015. Funds for the project will come from the 2012 Street Certificates of Obligation.
During the bidding process, Prater was the only bid received with four no-bids. Rountree explained that no-bids were usually due to the project being too small for some companies and that Prater is the company that completed the Fisk Street project recently.
“Unlike Fisk, this project will not be rebuilding the road, only resurfacing,” explained Mayor Stephen Haynes. “At the end of the day, it will be the same smooth surface that we have on Fisk.”Councilman Larry Mathis questioned if the bid, being the only bid received, was known to be a reasonable cost for the project. Rountree then explained that the project consists of approximately 6 acres of asphalt. Mayor Haynes agreed that the project came in at a good cost.
“They did a great job on Fisk and honestly, to cover that much road from Austin Avenue to 13th Street, even the combined impact of $225,000, that’s a real benefit for putting in a lot of road,” said Haynes. “And, it’s a major road; it’s one of those corridors that will be vastly improved.”
In other unrelated items on the agenda:
*Council approved an ordinance on second and third/final readings to close and abandon a portion of Vine Street between Quail Run and Willis Creek and to retain the remainder as an easement for maintenance access to the creek, a water line and drainage. This closure was approved at the February 24, 2015 meeting of the council subject to the property owners paying for a survey of the properties. The property location lies north of Quail run and ends at Willis Creek. Adjacent property owners requested the abandonment of the portions of this Right of way along both sides of this short portion of Vine Street to resolve encroachment issues and/or building set back requirements. This section of the street is paved, runs to the high bank of Willis Creek, is used by the city to access the creek for maintenance, allows drainage from Vine Street and Quail Run and contains a 16-inch diameter water line. The width of the right of way is 70 feet.
*Council authorized the mayor to sign contracts and amendments with Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) for the Senior Citizen Program.
*Council authorized an Atmos Rate Review Mechanism Settlement Agreement. Brownwood, along with 164 other cities involved in the Atmos Cities Steering Committee (ACSC) negotiated a settlement less than originally proposed rate increases from Atmos in February 2014. The settlement agreement resolves all issues between Atmos and the ACSC regarding the 2014 RRM filing. Brownwood City Council approved the settlement, which in summary explained by City Attorney Pat Chesser and Atmos representative Shelley Burnett will cost residential customers approximately $1.35/month and commercial customers approximately $3/month in consumption costs and customer charge or pass through fees.
*A report of the construction site progress for the soccer complex was given by City Manager Bobby Rountree. The irrigation system is now completed and three of the fields are ready for sod. Rountree stated that the city is thankful for the rain but that the ground has to dry out before the contractor can cut and complete the sod work.
*City of Brownwood Employees will enjoy Employee Splash Day at 6:00 p.m. on May 28th at the Camp Bowie Aquatic Center.
