The Worthington City Council on Monday approved a revised change order from Tri-State General Contracting to install drain tile at the new aquatic center project.
During a July 20 work session, council members considered a proposed change order from Tri-State General Contracting in the amount of $162,674.50. Council directed city staff to have discussion with the contractors and pool designers to help offset the cost of this proposed change order.
Tri-State General Contracting proposed a new change order in the amount of $152,406.66, a reduction of $10,267.84. Additionally, Short Elliot Hendrickson, the project’s architect, and USA Aquatics, the city’s pool designer, agreed to reduce their contract amount by $12,500. The total increased cost to the project -- to install this proposed drain tile and lift pumps -- will be $139,906.66 after these reductions.
The change order will result in the addition of 6-inch drain tile -- 8-inch deep and encased in rock -- around the perimeter of the new aquatic center Similar tile would be added to the existing outdoor pool, as well as a manhole with casting and two pumps to remove excess groundwater.
Also Monday, council members approved the re-classification of assessment accountant positions at the city and Worthington Public Utilities. The Assessment Accountant had been classified as non-exempt grade 8 (N-8), which has a salary midpoint of $30.68/hour. The position guidelines had not been updated since 1988.
In reviewing the minimum requirements for education and experience, it was determined that the assessment accountant position was incorrectly classified and should have been classified as Salary Grade N-7. Recommended changes to the essential duties along with minimum qualifications for education and experience were subsequently reviewed by engineering, administration and personnel staff recommended a reclassification to non-exempt grade 6 (N-6), which has a salary midpoint of $27.86. This position is currently open and is planned to be filled in the coming weeks.
The city council approved the first of three required readings of a text amendment to city code regarding uses of certain properties in the city’s B-2 Central Business District.
Under the proposed change, parking lots, parking, terminals and cleaning would be uses permitted by conditional use permit only in the B-2 Central Business District. The Worthington Planning Commission recommendation was based on four factors, among them being council members’ approval last month of an ordinance that removed the Retail Shopping Overlay District from city code. As part of that process, some downtown business owners requested that the city ensure that parking, terminals, and cleaning uses would not be permitted by-right.
In another community development item on Monday’s agenda, the council approved a change of zone request from Jonathon and Keturah Scribner for property located at 370 County Road 5 from its current ‘TZ’ Transition Zone designation to ‘R-4’ Medium Density Residential. The Worthington Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of the requested change earlier this month.
The council also approved a Nobles Home Initiative (NHI) application submitted by Marco Ramos. The applicant was seeking approval of tax abatement for the construction of a single-family home on Lots 6 and 7, Block 3, Cecilee Street Addition.
In an engineering item, council members awarded the construction contract for the state aid street bituminous overlay projects that include Clary Street from North Fredrick Avenue to McMillan Street, Fifth Avenue from 10th Street to 11th Street and 14th Street from Second Avenue to First Avenue. One bid was received in the amount of $241,034.95 from Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg. The bid was 17% lower than the engineer’s estimated cost.
In other business:
* The council also authorized city staff to perform criminal history employment checks in accordance with Minnesota statutes for all City employees subject to the Child Protect Act. This will generally be limited to those that are employed in association with the fieldhouse and other recreation facilities that may be owned or managed by the city. The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is the only agency authorized to perform these background checks. The BCA’s usual fee is $10 per individual.
* Council members approved a task order for Bolton & Menk regarding professional services for the City of Worthington Liquor Store parking lot reconstruction. This scope of services will include topographic surveys of the site, final design plans, project meetings, bidding assistance and award recommendation. This task order will not include construction services. The proposed fee for these services should not exceed $20,000.
