More ball fields have been approved for the expansion of the Becker Athletic Complex (BAC) as the development of the project continues. As you may know the city had acquired approximately 7 acres of property to the south of the present ball field complex known as the BAC. This property was on the other side of the parking area. The project as originally approved provided for 3 football/soccer fields to be developed with irrigation to provide more green space. In an earlier blog I had discussed in more detail the project as a whole.
In accomplishing the construction of the project a contractor will typically salvage the top soil by stripping it off and saving it for final application before seeding. In planning for this step we had determined there was approximately 12 inches of top soil throughout the site. Once scrapers and dozers were on the site it was found in the areas closest to the trees on the west side that we had roughly twice the thickness of top soil material. With this additional material we had a problem and an opportunity. The problem was we had more top soil than was needed on the project and we had to move it someplace. The opportunity was we had a space that could be utilized for some junior ball fields and using this material in that manner was a constructive option.
With the construction of the project we had taken out two junior ball fields that were established in the 7 acre parcel. We had salvaged the lime material used in the infield for later use. Now we had additional top soil. Having a vacant area that had been considered for junior ball field use in the future collided into the possibilities that perhaps we can make this happen now.
With a small amount of effort and additional funds the junior ball fields could be replaced. We also have the irrigation line running adjacent to the area and so watering of the fields was a possibility. The proposal included the trucking and spreading of the top soil from one area to another. We also looked at a small extension of the irrigation system to provide for a “center” pivot irrigation head that would water both junior ball areas. Seeding would need to be provided as well bringing the total estimated cost at $6,000 for the additional work. These costs will come out of the contingency amount for the project so funding was available. The additional expense was approved.
Looking at the total project, it is anticipated that seeding for all areas will occur in the next few weeks. We’ll get some growth yet this year. Growth will need to continue next season to fully establish the fields into playable turf. With any luck we’ll have suitable conditions for play next fall but in the worse case we’re in business for the spring of 2010.
Friday, August 22, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Looking for Great Leaders
Filings for office for City Council open on August 26 and remain open until 5:00 pm on September 9th. There are two council seats and the mayor seat open. These all carry 4 year terms. The filing fee is $2. Applicants must be a resident of the city for the past 30 days and be at least 21 years old upon assuming office.
Application is simple; just fill out a form for candidacy. Upon filing at city hall for candidacy you will be given a good deal of information. The packet includes among other things a Campaign Manual; financial reporting forms; two chapters from the League of Minnesota Handbook discussing council structure and role and Form and Structure of the city; a map; city and MnDOT sign information; and other city specific items.
The State of Minnesota through the Secretary of State will offer a new service on the web providing for an official listing of candidates that have filed for an office. This will be updated daily. Anyone interested in seeing who has filed can get the information online at www.sos.state.mm.us . These listings will be under municipal election searches and by looking for Becker you can look up either Candidate at Large or Mayor filings.
The election is held on November 4th, 2008 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Pre-registration is encouraged however you can also register the day of the election. A valid picture ID is needed which shows a street address to verify residency. You can also bring a neighbor or someone that can vouch that’s a city resident to verify residency. One issue that comes up each year is where do you live? Becker is a community of people that live in a number of different jurisdictions. If you live in Becker Township your polling place is the Town Hall on Hancock Street. As a city resident your polling place is City Hall at 12060 Sherburne Avenue.
Pre-registration can be accomplished in a number of different ways. City and county offices will have registration cards available. If you call the county of residence they will mail out a card to you. When renewing your driver’s license you can also be registered. All mailed registrations must be received by your county of residence by October 14 to be placed on the registration role for voting.
Participating in the election process either as a candidate or a voter is one of the most important freedoms we have. Please exercise that freedom and get out and vote.
Application is simple; just fill out a form for candidacy. Upon filing at city hall for candidacy you will be given a good deal of information. The packet includes among other things a Campaign Manual; financial reporting forms; two chapters from the League of Minnesota Handbook discussing council structure and role and Form and Structure of the city; a map; city and MnDOT sign information; and other city specific items.
The State of Minnesota through the Secretary of State will offer a new service on the web providing for an official listing of candidates that have filed for an office. This will be updated daily. Anyone interested in seeing who has filed can get the information online at www.sos.state.mm.us . These listings will be under municipal election searches and by looking for Becker you can look up either Candidate at Large or Mayor filings.
The election is held on November 4th, 2008 from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm. Pre-registration is encouraged however you can also register the day of the election. A valid picture ID is needed which shows a street address to verify residency. You can also bring a neighbor or someone that can vouch that’s a city resident to verify residency. One issue that comes up each year is where do you live? Becker is a community of people that live in a number of different jurisdictions. If you live in Becker Township your polling place is the Town Hall on Hancock Street. As a city resident your polling place is City Hall at 12060 Sherburne Avenue.
Pre-registration can be accomplished in a number of different ways. City and county offices will have registration cards available. If you call the county of residence they will mail out a card to you. When renewing your driver’s license you can also be registered. All mailed registrations must be received by your county of residence by October 14 to be placed on the registration role for voting.
Participating in the election process either as a candidate or a voter is one of the most important freedoms we have. Please exercise that freedom and get out and vote.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Bids or Quotes
Procurement for some goods can be a maze when you look at how cities operate. Some purchases are just out right purchases. These generally involve day to day needs. Other purchases are quotes and some are bids. Sometimes we request proposals from businesses to offer services to us. These are generally for professional services of consultants when used. Knowing what is what can be confusing but knowing what to do is a matter of law.
So what’s a quote and what’s a bid. Sometimes these words get used interchangeably but really there is a difference under law. A quote is a formal amount quoted by a business to provide a certain product. Minnesota law was recently amended to provide for quotes in government purchases for amounts up to $100,000. However any quoted amount over $25,000 needs to have at least 2 quotes so we’re assured we have a competitive quote for the work to be accomplished. Typically we try to get at least two quotes on any purchase of significance.
Under current law quotes can be received for items up to $100,000 but there is one other requirement for quotes over $75,000. This requires the city to receive a performance and payment bond for the purchase. These are separate bonds which provide for security. The performance bond guarantees the “project” gets built or provided in accordance with the specifications or needs of the purchaser. The payment bond provides and assurance to subcontractors that they will be paid. Without that assurance a subcontractor could seek payment from the city even though the city paid the contractor.
A bid is a much more formalized process. Bids are required on all procurements in excess of $100,000. This process involves a public notice to be published in the official newspaper of the city and often in other trade publications. The notice requires bids to be received at a specified time and date. At that time bids are opened publicly and read aloud. Typically the low bidder receives the award. With this process the bidder has to have a bid bond. This bond addresses the issue of signing a contract to do the work at the price bid. If the contractor makes an error and doesn’t want to sign a contract after being awarded the bid he relinquishes the bid bond. These are typically for 5% of the amount of the bid. The thought here is that the city may need to rebid the project and the bid bond addresses the expense of doing this. It also however places the onus on the bidder to do his homework so the process can move smoothly.
There are exceptions to the bidding/quote requirements. Professional services are one of those exceptions. We however periodically do a “Request for Proposals” for some professional service work. We have done this primarily for public works projects in using the services of an engineer. This allows us to evaluate the services being offered and also look at the expense of the engineer for the project. This process takes a bit more time but the ability to select the most qualified or least expensive or other criteria can be accomplished when additional information is received.
It may seem like there are hoops to jump through when dealing with a city but when you look at the reasons for them they becomes easier to understand. There is a method to our madness.
So what’s a quote and what’s a bid. Sometimes these words get used interchangeably but really there is a difference under law. A quote is a formal amount quoted by a business to provide a certain product. Minnesota law was recently amended to provide for quotes in government purchases for amounts up to $100,000. However any quoted amount over $25,000 needs to have at least 2 quotes so we’re assured we have a competitive quote for the work to be accomplished. Typically we try to get at least two quotes on any purchase of significance.
Under current law quotes can be received for items up to $100,000 but there is one other requirement for quotes over $75,000. This requires the city to receive a performance and payment bond for the purchase. These are separate bonds which provide for security. The performance bond guarantees the “project” gets built or provided in accordance with the specifications or needs of the purchaser. The payment bond provides and assurance to subcontractors that they will be paid. Without that assurance a subcontractor could seek payment from the city even though the city paid the contractor.
A bid is a much more formalized process. Bids are required on all procurements in excess of $100,000. This process involves a public notice to be published in the official newspaper of the city and often in other trade publications. The notice requires bids to be received at a specified time and date. At that time bids are opened publicly and read aloud. Typically the low bidder receives the award. With this process the bidder has to have a bid bond. This bond addresses the issue of signing a contract to do the work at the price bid. If the contractor makes an error and doesn’t want to sign a contract after being awarded the bid he relinquishes the bid bond. These are typically for 5% of the amount of the bid. The thought here is that the city may need to rebid the project and the bid bond addresses the expense of doing this. It also however places the onus on the bidder to do his homework so the process can move smoothly.
There are exceptions to the bidding/quote requirements. Professional services are one of those exceptions. We however periodically do a “Request for Proposals” for some professional service work. We have done this primarily for public works projects in using the services of an engineer. This allows us to evaluate the services being offered and also look at the expense of the engineer for the project. This process takes a bit more time but the ability to select the most qualified or least expensive or other criteria can be accomplished when additional information is received.
It may seem like there are hoops to jump through when dealing with a city but when you look at the reasons for them they becomes easier to understand. There is a method to our madness.
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