Wamego City Commissioners gave their approval for the water tower painting project. At Tuesday’s City Commission, Merl Page, City Manager, reviewed the bids received for painting the new Water Tower, which was tabled at the last meeting for further review. Page said three bids were received, the lowest from Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls, South Dakota for $79,720, Caldwell Tanks Inc. of Harrodsburg, Kentucky submitted a bid for $83,000, and Classic Protective Coatings of Menomonie, Wisconsin bid was $124,800.
Commissioner Vic Enns said we should get on with the project and made a motion to accept the bid from Maguire Iron, Inc. for $79,720. The motion was approved with a unanimous vote. The bid proposal states the project will begin around April 21st and the approved design will make the water tower look like an inflated hot air balloon.
Wamego’s Sports Complex will be getting batting cages. Page said when the Sports Complex was completed, the cost estimate to install four batting cages came in at between $110,00 and $120,000. He said they took an alternative approach and purchased the hardware and netting without the automatic return feature, but no installation has taken place. He said he contacted the original contractor, R. M. Baril Company, who will install the two batting cages for a cost of $25,735. Besides the installation, the cost covers all the concrete required plus re-grading of the area. A motion was made and approved to get it done.
The Commission approved a Tulip Festival Run from the same group that’s held the Run before. They also approved a Train Fundraising Event to be held sometime this summer at the request of Kim Shaw of Mom’s of OZ, to hold a fundraising meal to benefit the Train Maintenance Fund.
Wamego reviewed a highway sign contract. Page said when the Miller’s deeded the property on the South side of the Kansas River to the City for the Miller Nature Trail there were two highway signs on the property. Page said the sign company submitted a 5-year land-use rental agreement to the City, with a check for one year’s rent. He said the agreement specifies an annual rent of $525. A motion was made to accept the agreement contingent on review by Jake Pugh, City Attorney. The signs located on the property are for KanEquip and Vanderbilts.
A Cereal Malt Beverage (CMB) license was approved for Last Stop. Page said the CMB licenses are normally approved on a calendar year-end, but the Last Stop is changing owners and the current license is not transferrable. Scott Dinger is the new owner of Last Stop and the license becomes effective on April 1st. Also, the Highway 24 and Kaw Valley Road improvements are underway, and traffic on Highway 24 is down to two lanes. Mac Campbell, Director of Operations, said to expect a two to three month construction period for the project. Traffic lights and sidewalks are being installed in the area through an 80/20 grant from KDOT.