BonnerSprings.com

Jesse Truesdale

jtruesdale@theworldco.info

High oil prices recently made for an unexpectedly hefty tab on a city street repair contract in Bonner Springs.

At its Monday night meeting, the City Council approved the lowest of two bids received for a project that came in more than $12,000 over its budgeted cost, which the contractor said was due to the price of fuel and oil.

Harbour Construction's bid for the 1.4-mile stretch of 134th Street from Metropolitan to Kansas Avenue was for $46,440. That comes to $10,801 more per mile than the project's 2007 bid by Harbour, said Matt Beets, project manager for the city's Public Works Department.

The difference between the project's actual and budgeted price, $12,540, can be made up for by the mill-and-overlay and curb-repair bids earlier this year, both of which came in under budget, Beets said.

"This is the tip of the iceberg," City Manager Jack Helin said regarding the increased cost of street repairs as a result of higher oil prices. "We're going to be paying a lot more for that kind of stuff."

Helin later said the contract was "the first one that's really hit us" with increased costs due to petroleum price increases, although two bids for completion of the walking trail along 138th Street North Park to Pioneer Drive were also higher than expected. As a result the Council voted in April to reject two bids for the project in hopes of finding lower bids.

In other actions, the Council:

¢ Watched a presentation of a plaque by Mayor Clausie Smith to Sgt. Detective Jay Oliver, who retired this week from the Bonner Springs Police Department after 22 years, and a presentation to Janice Creason for designing the new entrance to the Bonner Springs Cemetery.

¢ Approved the minutes of its June 9 meeting. Council member Rodger Shannon was absent.

¢ Approved claims of $247,049 for city operations.

¢ Approved Public Housing Authority claims of $18,010.

¢ Approved the final plat for Johnson Ridge, a 6.9-acre, 21-lot residential subdivision at 137th Street and Barber Avenue. The plat's approval was contingent upon the Council's acceptance of the plat's dedication of rights of way and easements for utilities and streets.

¢ Approved an ordinance amending the city's subdivision regulations for minimum design standards for lots abutting a street. The ordinance, unanimously recommended for approval by the Planning Commission at its May meeting, amends Article VI, section 3(7) of the subdivision regulations, which without the amendment read, "every lot shall abut on and have access to a public street other than an alley." The amended ordinance reads: "every residential lot shall front on a public or private street," and "every nonresidential lot shall abut on and have access to a public street or have access to a public street by means of a public access easement to a point approved by the city and shall be noted on the face of the final plat."

The regulation's previous requirement that nonresidential lots in subdivisions each abut a public street created the need for building more city streets - which in turn required maintenance, including snow removal by the city's Public Works Department in the winter - was the Planning Department's rationale for changing the regulation.

"There are instances and where the location and maintenance of a public street is not desired both for the developer as well as the city," planning director Don Slone's report said.

¢ Approved a change to the city personnel policy for 24-hour-shift Emergency Medical Services employees to include sick days as hours worked for overtime.

¢ Approved an ordinance amending city codes that relate to tampering with water meters and fire hydrants.

One change distinguishes tampering with a water meter from tampering with a fire hydrant. Another change raises the possible penalties for meter- or hydrant-tampering - formerly not exceeding $100 for each violation - to maximum penalty of 179 days in jail and/or a fine of $1,000 for such offenses.

The change was necessary, wrote Rick Sailler, utilities director, in his report, because "we have experienced problems with contractors using water without a meter, and a case of suspected use by a homeowner."

Sailler wrote that violation of the amended ordinance could also be subject to state and federal penalties.

¢ Heard Helin's city manager report. Helin said the Kansas Department of Transportation had approved a maximum reimbursement of $500,000 in Transportation Enhancement Funding for the city's Front Street Improvement Project. The project, which includes resurfacing, curb repair, new sidewalks, lighting and landscaping, is estimated to cost $808,359, which would mean the city would have to pay for $308,359 of the project, after planning to cover 25 percent, or $202,090 of the cost.

The final design for the project is expected from Wilson and Company by July 30, after which city staff would provide a recommendation on how to cover the additional $106,269 in costs for the city.

The council will discuss at a workshop before its July 14 meeting an ordinance to set the combined rate for household trash service and curbside recycling to be voted on at the same meeting. The new fee, which would be a maximum of $9.67, an increase of $2.97 due to the recycling pick-up fee, and a minimum of $2.85, would be effective Aug. 1.

Construction of the new library is moving along, Helin reported, with the foundation of the children's wing begun this week.

The demolition of five homes along Spring Creek, begun June 9, is scheduled to be completed by June 30. The demolitions are part of a flood mitigation program on the creek.

The recycle-in-place street repair along Metropolitan Avenue is completed, as is curbing along 131st Street and Glenwood.

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