THE FAIRMONT CITY COUNCIL MONDAY REJECTED BIDS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE A NEW PUBLIC WORKS FACILITY. TOTAL COST WAS JUST UNDER 7.5 MILLION DOLLARS WITH SOFT COST AND CONTINGENCIES BRINGING THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST UP TO 9.8 MILLION. THE COST WAS TOO MUCH FOR COUNCILORS RANDY LUBENOW, BRITNEY KAWECKI AND MICHELLE MILLER WHO VOTED DOWN ACCEPTANCE OF THE BID WHILE COUNCILORS BRUCE PETERS AND WAYNE HASEK VOTED TO APPROVE.

COUNCILORS DID APPROVED A BID FOR PHASE 1 OF THE LIME POND CLOSURE PROJECT WHICH WAS $ 654,220 FROM U.S SITEWORK OF ELK RIVER. THE BID WAS WELL UNDER THE ENGINEER’S ESTIMATE OF $1,515,900. THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE BID OF $119,459 FROM BLACK SHEEP LANDSCAPING LLP. OF JACKSON FOR THE GRANT STREET WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECT. ENGINEER’S ESTIMATE WAS $130,295. 7 BIDS WERE RECEIVED FOR THE FAIRLAKES AVENUE CONSTRUCTION PROJECT. THE LOW BID WAS 1.35 MILLION DOLLARS FROM GM CONTRACTING. THE ENGINEERS ESTAMTE WAS 1.8 MILLION.

THE COUNCIL APPROVED A CONTROLLED BURN AT THE YARD WASTE SITE (TREE DUMP) SOMETIME BETWEEN NOVEMBER AND APRIL EACH YEAR. COUNCILOR PETERS CAST THE LONE DISSENTING VOTE. COUNCILORS HAD A 4-1 VOTE IN FAVOR LOOKING INTO THE POSSIBLITY OF LIFEGUARDS AT THE BUDD LAKE BEACH AT GOMSRUD PARK. COUNCILOR HASEK HAD THE LONE DISSENTING VOTE. THE COUNCIL UNANAMOUSLY APPROVED REFUNDING AN ADDITION AL 50 % OF THE LIQUOR LICENSE FEES TO CITY BUSINESSES. THE CITY HAD GIVEN A 25% DISCOUNT ON RENEWAL FEES FOR THE JULY 1,2020 TO JUNE 30,2021 LECENSE RENEWAL TO COMPENSATE BUSINESSES FOR THE FIRST CORONAVIRUS SHUT DOWN. THE COUNCIL WAS LEANING TOWARD LIQUOR STORE FUNDS TO COMPENSATE.

THE FAIRMONT CITY COUNCIL WAS INTRODUCED TO NEW FAIRMONT POLICE OFFICER PARKER STEVENS BY POLICE CHIEF MICHAEL HUNTER WHO ALSO PRESENTED THE 2020 FAIRMONT POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT.