Pair of studies and waterline project total more than $1.6M; language for city recorder measure also up for approval
By Morgan Rothborne, Ashland.news
Multiple projects from the city public works department are up for consideration by the Ashland City Council on Tuesday evening.
The council is expected to vote on a contract with ORW Architecture to create a Facility Planning Optimization and Management Plan for the city.
All city facilities would be evaluated for the potential to become more energy efficient or enhance the use of solar power, for efficiency of each building’s use and to prepare buildings for climate change. The plan will also examine roofing and other structural components to be “proactive when it comes to budgeting for replacement or upgrades,” according to meeting materials. The contract would cost $210,209 and be the first plan of this kind since 2008.
The council is also expected to vote on a contract for $215,038 with nonprofit organization Freshwater Trust to perform a “Flow Augmentation Feasibility Study.” The study fulfills a regulatory requirement for the city wastewater treatment plant’s National Pollution Discharge Elimination System Permit. The cost of the project is already accounted for in the city budget, according to meeting materials.
A construction contract for $1,187,680 with Central Pipeline will also be up for council’s approval. The project would install a new waterline from Morton Street to Ivy Lane. The project has already been approved under the city’s capital improvement plan, is included in the city’s 2020 water master plan, and funds have been appropriated for the project, according to meeting materials.
In other council business Tuesday, ballot language for a change to the city recorder position will be up for a vote. If approved by council, Ashland voters would be asked in May to vote on changing the city recorder position from an elected official to a hired employee.
The reason for the change reflects that the position has become solely administrative in nature and may represent fiscal savings for the city, according to meeting materials.
Council will also vote to approve an annual City Council planning retreat to “discuss work plan priorities and initiatives without the consideration of business actions,” according to meeting materials.
The retreat would be held in the spring at the Ashland Hills Hotel “or like location” with an estimated cost of $1,400. The cost has been accounted for in the city’s Mayor and Council budget, according to meeting materials.
The meeting is set to start at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 6, in the Ashland City Council chamber, 1175 East Main St. Proceedings are cablecast live on Channel 9 (or 180), streamed online at rvtv.sou.edu (RVTV Prime), and posted online at bit.ly/coavideos the day after the meeting.
Email Ashland.news reporter Morgan Rothborne at [email protected].
