Sean C. Morgan
Of The New Era
Most of the reconstruction work on 2nd Avenue is complete following the City Council’s approval of a bid last week.
The council awarded a contract for the project to M.L. Houck Construction Co., which also is handling the Highway 228 repaving project, during its regular meeting on Jan. 10.
In August 2006, the citizens of Second Avenue presented a petition to City Council requesting funds be allocated to the reconstruction of their street due to its age and deterioration, Public Works Director Mike Adams said.
At the time, funds were not allocated to the project, Adams said, but the council authorized staff to design and request official bids for the project to see if funds could be used during fiscal 2006-07, which ended on June 30.
On Jan. 11, the city posted an official invitation to bid on the project and received bids from seven contractors, Adams said. The low bid was $110,689.25, lower than originally anticipated; but that was still more than double what was available in the operating budget.
The city wasn’t able to enter a contract at the time for lack of funding, Adams said.
“However, staff had conversations with the contractor, and they agreed to keep the project ‘open’ on their schedule so they can complete it when the project could be budgeted in the upcoming operating budget process (2007-08).”
The funds were allocated in the 2007-08 budget.
The contractor started work on July 11, digging out 8-foot sections of the street between Highway 228 and Hawthorne Street and replacing the base and pavement.
The curb has been removed and still needs to be replaced, Adams said.
High bidder on the project was Gelco Construction of Salem for $156,626.70. Morse Brothers of Tangent bid $111,689.25. Other bidders included Emery and Sons Construction of Stayton, North Santiam Paving of Stayton, K&E Excavating of Salem and Salem Road and Driveway.
In other business, the council:
– Held the second reading of an ordinance to rezone property north of Nandina Street and northwest of Safeway as medium-density residential.
– Appointed Sharon Kay Akerfelds to the Library Board to fill a partial term ending on June 30, 2008.
She said she has been a library volunteer for about five years. She is retired. She has been involved in the library’s summer reading program and the Foster Grandparent Program at Sunnyside Head Start.