Email: "Tama water plant bid saves $300,000"
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TAMA NEWS-HERALD- It’s not quite a ‘done deal’ but it looks like Tama is going to save about 25 percent on the estimated cost of the city’s new water treatment plant. A bid totaling $994,000, well under the $1.3 million estimate, was tentatively accepted by the city council on a 5-0 vote Monday night.

Members Steve Baier, Josh Youngbear, Jeff Brezina, Robert Tyynismaa and Dan Zimmerman all voted in favor.

The bid, from Blazek Corp., Lawler, Iowa, was $45,000 less than the next bidder, Wendler Construction of South Amana. Other bidders were Henkel Construction Co., Mason city, $1,074,000 and Pro Commercial, Huxley, $1,149,881.

At the urging of Alan Peterson, McClure Company engineer, the council agreed to wait until Iowa Department of Natural Resources and State Revolving Fund staff examine and give the go-ahead before formally authorizing Mayor Chris Bearden to sign the Blazek contract.

The city is relying upon a Revolving Fund loan and Federal stimulus money to finance the work.

The water filtration system has been in danger of failing according to McClure engineers and the process to replace the 24-year old system has been in the works since last year.

Tama municipal water is required to have levels of manganese lowered among items in the treatment process.

Water rates for Tama customers were raised March 1 of this year as part of a two-phase hike to pay for the new treatment plant. It was not immediately announced if the lower plant cost would affect the new rate structure.

Tama Casino License Application

Council members voted 4-0 to allow the Tama County Community Enrichment organization to use the council chambers, city clerk and mayor’s offices and the city copy machine while preparing the non-profit group’s state casino license for Tama. Member Zimmerman was not present for the vote because he left the council meeting for another commitment.

Mayor Bearden, who also heads the Enrichment group, said there will be a number of meetings necessary before the Nov. 9 deadline to submit the application to the Iowa Racing and Gaming commission.

Tama County voters approved a referendum in 2006 to allow a casino operation in Tama. Since then, the application process has been held up by the commission while members awaited evaluation of the success of casinos granted licenses in 2005.

Tama and four other applicants were given permission to proceed to the next step in July.

Out of Economic Development

Mayor Bearden and Counicl member Youngbearreported they had both met with Linid Roelofse, executive director of Tama County Economic Development, following the council decison on Sept. 7 to pull out ofthe organization. It was learned Tama was bound as a member until July 1, 2010. the ocuncil decision will be in effect for the following fiscal year.

Railroad Crossing

After two weeks to consider a Union Pacific Railroad proposal, the council agreed Monday night ot invite a railroad copmany representative to attend a meeting with them to discuss closing the downtown McClellan Street crossing.

Mayor Bearden and ocuncil members did say they would look to concessions from the rialroad including major repairs of the street crossing at Siegel Street if agreement wass reached to close McClellan Street.

The Union Pacific and Iowa Department of Transportation completed a project involving the state street (U.S. Highway 63) crossing in Tama this summer. There are also Union Pacific crossings at Hall and Harmon streets and on the city’s eastern edge.

In other business the council:

•appointed City Clerk Welch the city grievance officer and to procedures for the process. The designation and system is being put in place to assure compliance with guideleines for construction of the treatment plant and to comply with govenrment funding regulations.

•discussed switchgear equipment for generators at the Tama Civic Center and waste water treatment plant. The generatorws supply power to the buildings in the event of power outages.

approved atendance of City Clerk Welch and Nancy Carlson, assistant city clerk, at the Iowa Municipal Finance Officers meeting in des moines on Oct. 21-23.

•discussed procedure tov deal with an apaprent abandoned home at 510 Oswego Street. City Attorney Dan Rathjen will contact those with intnerest in the property to seek a resolve before a muniicpal infractionn is filed in Tama County Magistrate Court.

•approved beer permit renewals for Miguel’s Store and El Gallito.

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