City awards $5.1M bid for new public works building in West Industrial Park

Posted

HURON — An Aberdeen company has been awarded a low bid of $5.1 million to construct the city’s new public works building in the West Industrial Park.
The bid came in about $400,000 under the engineer’s estimate.
City commissioners awarded the bid Monday to Kyburz-Carlson Construction Co. of Aberdeen. Work will start soon. The deadline for completion is September of next year.
The city is financing the project with $1.2 million in second penny sales tax money that has accumulated in a special account since 2009, and with about $4 million set aside in two reserve accounts. No money will have to be borrowed.
The new building will be constructed on seven acres owned by the city at the northeast corner of Third Street and U Avenue in the West Industrial Park.
It will be home to the street, traffic and water-sewer departments.
In other action, commissioners approved a plat for six lots filed by Greater Huron Development Corporation in the Southtown Addition.
The lots are being platted east of the new Kansas Avenue Southeast extension and south of the Coborn’s parking lot. There are parties interested in two of the lots. A cul-de-sac will also be developed to provide access to all six lots.
To the west of the Kansas Avenue Southeast extension in that area will be the locations of the Ground Round Restaurant and Dakotaland Federal Credit Union building. Dirt work on those projects has begun.

Meanwhile, commissioners gave final approval of the 2018 city budget of $31,345,122, which is 6 percent below the current budget of $33,295,923.
Property tax revenue is figured with a 1 percent consumer price index, set by the state Department of Revenue. New growth is estimated at just under 1 percent. Total property tax increase is $92,510.
Finance Director Paullyn Carey said the sales tax revenue for all three penny sales taxes is budgeted with a 3 percent increase.
Salaries are included, but adjustments will be made when a salary study authorized this fall by the board is made. Health insurance is budgeted with a 6.9 percent increase, an increase over last year’s zero percent increase.
Commissioners also:
• Approved the regular full-time status of Kay Kujawa in the solid waste department and Aaron Rogers in the water-sewer department on completion of their probationary periods.
• Approved the regular status of Zach Gertz, street maintenance, on completion of his probationary period.
• Hired Colter Florey to fill a firefighter position.
• Announced that there will be a residential household waste collection on Thursday, Oct. 12 in front of the state fairgrounds grandstand.
Hours are from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Materials that can be dropped off are stains, varnishes, sealers, latex and oil paint, gasoline, batteries, cleaners, solvents and waxes.
No explosives or pressurized tanks are eligible.
Anti-freeze and oil are not included, but can be disposed of year-round at the solid waste department rubble site.
• Announced that the solid waste department will be closed to the public from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday due to a planned power outage by NorthWestern Energy.
• Heard from Commissioner Bryan Smith that a Campbell Park Historic District walking guide has been produced for people interested in the history of the homes and other properties within the district, which was established in 1974. There are photographs of each of the properties in the guide.
The guides are available at City Hall, the library and the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau.
• Had a discussion during a work session on whether the city should schedule another auction to sell more lots within the Southtown Addition.