CLEAR LAKE – The Clear Lake city council met on Monday, November 25th in a special session and moved forward with plans for two large projects there.
The council set a date for bid-letting on a renovation project of the Clear Lake City Hall and police headquarters. Bid letting on the proposed project was set for January 14, 2014, at 2:00 p.m., and the council established January 20, 2014, at 6:30 p.m., as the date and time for a public hearing on the proposed plans & specifications, as well as consideration of an award of contract. City Administrator Scott Flory noted that the estimated cost of construction is roughly $1.5 million and the proposed completion date is December 31, 2014.
Mr. Flory reviewed the proposed North Shore Drive Street Reconstruction Project, and Tim Moreau, Veenstra & Kimm, reviewed the project plans & specifications and stated that the total project cost including engineering, legal, contingency, and administrative is estimated at $2,495,556 and that the total amount to be funded by special assessments is $445,167.91, which is roughly 17.8% of the total cost of the project. He noted the project schedule sets a bid letting for February 18, 2014 at the DOT in Ames, public hearing on the plans and specifications at the February 17, 2014 council meeting and award of contract at the March 3, 2014 council meeting.
A public hearing was held on the project, and two citizens spoke.
Mike Grandon, of 304 North Shore Drive, stated he is in favor of the project however he is concerned about to access to his property during construction. Robert Elsbury, of 410 North Shore Drive, stated he is in favor of the project and has no issues with the Street assessment portion but objects to the assessment for the water main.
Lastly, Mr. Flory reviewed a proposed Voluntary Early Retirement Incentive Program (VRIP)and stated that the City has offered similar programs in the past. He advised that the program be offered until the end of December and the eligible employee must retire from his/her position with the City between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2014.
The VRIP is a voluntary process that offers all benefited employees a severance package to separate from employment with the City of Clear Lake. The purpose of the program is to reduce payroll costs, supports a sustainable budget, and provides a voluntary separation opportunity for employees wishing to retire but are unable to do so because of financial consequences.
