City council rejects street bids, discuss building codes
City council members rejected three bids for street improvements last week.
During a regular meeting, council members turned down bids ranging from $625,000 to $643,000 to improve city streets. The original estimate for the project was $488,272.
Engineer Pete Crawford and City Administrator Brad Wright are working together to scale back the scope of the project in order to make it more cost efficient. Originally, the plan included several city streets, roads at the cemetery and some alleyways.
In an effort to lower the cost of the project, Wright and Crawford want to temporarily hold off on the cemetery and alleyway work. City streets such as Corning and Eighth will be the main focus.
Once the project plans have been revised, the project will go up for bid again. Council members set a public hearing date of May 4, where a bid will be awarded.
During the meeting, members of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council presented a plan at the meeting for new building codes for property owners.
The codes will mostly apply to those who are building new structures, building additions to existing structures and rental property owners.
The new policy will include the adoption of the international building codes and would require an inspection to assure a property can meet all health and safety requirements for all new buildings, additions or rental properties.
When building a new structure, SWIPCO officials estimate a total of nine visits for inspections to the property during the building period. Each inspection will evaluate a different aspect of the construction such as foundation, plumbing and electrical work.
To build a new structure or addition, a person must pay for a permit and inspection fees.
Permits will start at $10, depending on the overall cost and scope of the project. Inspection fees are slated to be $.25 per square foot plus $100 per trip.
Failure to show for an inspection appointment will result in an additional $40 charge.
Rental properties will have to undergo inspection every three years, at which time a new rental permit will be issued.
According to Wright, the goal is to “raise the quality of property in Red Oak.” If there are violations during an inspection, property owners will be given a chance to fix them. If owners are “unable or unwilling” to comply, city officials will become involved.
The council did not vote to adopt the ordinances for building codes last week; however, it is likely there will be a vote at the next meeting. If the ordinances are adopted, rental property owners will have to apply for a rental permit by July 1 of this year.
The council also heard from councilwoman Jeanice Lester about the Red Oak Tourism and Recreation Committee’s allotment of Hotel/Motel Tax funds.
The committee awarded funds for projects such as the Montgomery County Agricultural Society’s Demolition Derby promotion, the Wilson Performing Arts Center and Red Oak Chamber and Industry Association’s summer kickoff event, Junction Days, a television advertisement for the Montgomery County History Center, a cycling event hosted by Alley Poyner Macchietto Architecture and Live Well Omaha and expansion construction for the Red Oak Grand Theatre.