The Fennimore City Council met on Monday, Oct. 16, for its monthly meeting .
Fennimore Police Chief Chris French gave an update on the replacement of the department’s squad cars.
French stated that the F-150 is still at Belco Vehicle Solution in Portage waiting for parts and we will put it in service as soon as it is available.
He then explained to the council that after speaking with a Fillback sales person, was informed that they would re-order a 2024 Ford Explorer to make up for the 2022 Explorer order that was never filled, and that hopefully the department would anticipate taking possession of the new squad in Spring 2024.
He went on the explain that the purchase would be on the department’s 2024 budget, and that they would have enough money to purchase the squad, but possibly not for the build.
French did say the two current high mileage squads have had to undergo costly up keeps, so the arrival of the new squads would elevate up keep costs, which could then be used towards the build on the new Explorer. The council approved French’s request with the Explorer re-order.
Tim Wilson from Dixon Engineering Inc., went over the bids they had received for the exterior overcoat and miscellaneous repairs to the 300,000 gallon East Water Tower.
Nine bids were received in all and it was recommended by Wilson on Dixon’s behalf that the city go through L&T Painting out of Shelby Township, Mich. The winning bid did come under the estimated cost according to Wilson.
The council awarded the bid to L&T Painting, with the water tower work to be in either Spring or Fall 2024, with a completion time frame of 30 days.
The council further approved Dixon Engineering Inc., to be the project administration during the water tower work, pending attorney consent.
Discussion took place on future replacement/update to 12th Street sidewalks and crosswalks. The details are still a work in progress, with seeking bids and/or working with the county as possible options, but in the meantime, contractors planned to be contacted with a possibility of city workers joining in to elevate costs.
Although not scheduled until 2028, as Evan Chambers from Town and Country Engineering, stated the city needed to “give direction, and start with design,” on the future 12th Street project. Sidewalk replacement, keeping/pulling trees, and the DOT covering sewer, storm and gutter costs were some of the details the council touched on.
In other tidbits from the council meeting, during the comments from pre-registered citizens portion, Margaret Sprague during her Fennimore Tree Board update stated that prairie seeds at Eldred Prairie, located east of Lancaster, had be collected and the seeds will be dispersed at Oakwood Nature Park after snowfall to enhance the diversity of native plants already present in the park.
She also announced the city tree program for 2024 were property may purchase (at a discount) trees to be planted in street terraces. Seven varieties will be offered with a few new varieties for this year.
The Tree Board is also proposing an additional “private property” tree planting program. Trees would again be available for purchase at a discount, that the program would target properties were “terraces in front of a property is not a viable planting site.”
In Fennimore Community Development Manager Lydia McLimans’ report, a Forming Fennimore’s Future meeting is tentatively planned for Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Memorial Building.
Fennimore Police Chief Chris French gave an update on the replacement of the department’s squad cars.
French stated that the F-150 is still at Belco Vehicle Solution in Portage waiting for parts and we will put it in service as soon as it is available.
He then explained to the council that after speaking with a Fillback sales person, was informed that they would re-order a 2024 Ford Explorer to make up for the 2022 Explorer order that was never filled, and that hopefully the department would anticipate taking possession of the new squad in Spring 2024.
He went on the explain that the purchase would be on the department’s 2024 budget, and that they would have enough money to purchase the squad, but possibly not for the build.
French did say the two current high mileage squads have had to undergo costly up keeps, so the arrival of the new squads would elevate up keep costs, which could then be used towards the build on the new Explorer. The council approved French’s request with the Explorer re-order.
Tim Wilson from Dixon Engineering Inc., went over the bids they had received for the exterior overcoat and miscellaneous repairs to the 300,000 gallon East Water Tower.
Nine bids were received in all and it was recommended by Wilson on Dixon’s behalf that the city go through L&T Painting out of Shelby Township, Mich. The winning bid did come under the estimated cost according to Wilson.
The council awarded the bid to L&T Painting, with the water tower work to be in either Spring or Fall 2024, with a completion time frame of 30 days.
The council further approved Dixon Engineering Inc., to be the project administration during the water tower work, pending attorney consent.
Discussion took place on future replacement/update to 12th Street sidewalks and crosswalks. The details are still a work in progress, with seeking bids and/or working with the county as possible options, but in the meantime, contractors planned to be contacted with a possibility of city workers joining in to elevate costs.
Although not scheduled until 2028, as Evan Chambers from Town and Country Engineering, stated the city needed to “give direction, and start with design,” on the future 12th Street project. Sidewalk replacement, keeping/pulling trees, and the DOT covering sewer, storm and gutter costs were some of the details the council touched on.
In other tidbits from the council meeting, during the comments from pre-registered citizens portion, Margaret Sprague during her Fennimore Tree Board update stated that prairie seeds at Eldred Prairie, located east of Lancaster, had be collected and the seeds will be dispersed at Oakwood Nature Park after snowfall to enhance the diversity of native plants already present in the park.
She also announced the city tree program for 2024 were property may purchase (at a discount) trees to be planted in street terraces. Seven varieties will be offered with a few new varieties for this year.
The Tree Board is also proposing an additional “private property” tree planting program. Trees would again be available for purchase at a discount, that the program would target properties were “terraces in front of a property is not a viable planting site.”
In Fennimore Community Development Manager Lydia McLimans’ report, a Forming Fennimore’s Future meeting is tentatively planned for Wednesday, Nov. 15, at the Memorial Building.
The next meeting of Fennimore City Council is scheduled for Monday, Nov. 20, at 5:30 p.m., in the council chambers of city hall.
