Boyceville accepts bids for Main Street reconstruction and improvement project
PROTECTED CONTENT
If you’re a current subscriber, log in below. If you would like to subscribe, please click the subscribe tab above.
Username and Password Help
Please enter your email and we will send you a password reset link.
BOYCEVILLE — The Main Street Reconstruction project will get underway this spring as the Village Board accepted the low bid for the improvements at their regular monthly meeting Monday evening.
Erik Evenson of MSA Engineering out of Rice Lake addressed the board, informing them that they had received five bids by the Match 7th bid opening with the base bids ranging from $1,086,637.50 to $1,454,360.50.
The low bid was from Skid Steer Guy out of Mondovi. Evenson noted that he had not worked with that firm previously and requested that they provide references on similarly sized projects. Evenson said he spoke with an engineer from a large water main installation project that was done last year and was told that they performed well on the project, which also included similar funding as the Boyceville project.
The Village has received some $870,000 in grants to help fund the improvement project. The Board accepted the low bid and also an alternative bid of $18,000 to furnish four benches, trash receptacles and four planters.
Evenson also presented the Village Board with two drawings of street extension and alley relocation for their approval.
The first was the Charlotte Street extension, which will connect Charlotte Street with Range Road to allow access for the new fire station near the existing Cenex Convenient Store.
The alley work will be to straighten an existing alley just north of Main Street where it intersects with East Street.
PUBLIC MEETING FOR NEW FIRE STATION
The Village Board also discussed the new fire station and the Village’s share of its $1.6 million cost, which is about $264,000. The board agreed to hold a public meeting to inform the community about the new station. The meeting will held on Monday, March 25 at 6 p.m. at the Village Hall. During the discussion about the new fire station, Village President Gib Krueger noted that three people had addressed the proposal to him with negativity. But, Krueger noted, “Two of those people are dead.”
POLICE CHIEF PROMOTES SEXTING ORDINANCE
Boyceville Police Chief Greg Lamkin addressed the Board about creating an ordinance relating to minors “Sexting.”
He stated this would be addressing video pictures, depicting nudity, sexual conduct between minors. He noted that his proposal would be addressed to those under the age of 18. Lamkin also noted that the transmission of pictures of minors is considered child porn, but the DA is reluctant to press changes when it is done between minors. The proposed ordinance would impose a fine of not more than $50.00 with court cost it would be just over a hundred dollars.
In his report to the Village Board, Lamkin stated that his department had 117 calls in February, which is up by 26 more calls than a year ago.
His reported stated; “We issued six traffic citations to municipal court and four to circuit court. We also issued 25 ordnance citations. In February we made four misdemeanor arrests and two felony arrests. We’ve had a few time consuming criminal investigations that are wrapping up.” He notes to the board that they had ticketed one person for parking violations a number of times. “We might have to have her car towed so she will get the message,” he said.
The board also heard a report from Airport manager, Joel Timblin who addressed the fuel system at the airport saying, “that we do very well on the fuel prices and that keeps people coming to the airport.” He also informed the board that they did not get the grant to resurface the runway and that they will reapply again for funding in 2020. He noted that the runway would have to be resurfaced in 2020 with or without grant funds.
The board approved an amendment to the 2019 budget. Village Clerk/Treasurer Darlene Lee explained that the current budget has a shortfall of $88,303 because of the TIF District levy. Lee noted that the auditor indicated that street expenses of $11,432 can be eliminated because that work was done last fall and fifty percent of the cost of the wheel loader, $67,600 can be charged to the water/sewer department and the remaining $9,271 will come out of the Main Street Outlay. The board approved the amendment.
