Marshall city officials take oaths, approve asphalt bids

City Clerk Janet French (right) reads the oath of office to city officials elected in the April 3 election as they raise their right hands. From left, Sam Moten, council member Ward 3; Lorna Alexander, council member Ward 4; Mayor Connie Latimer; Edward McInteer, municipal court judge; Lin Alexander, city attorney; Diane Green, city treasurer; Barbara Utlaut, council member Ward 1; and Gabe Ramsey council member Ward 2.
(Photo by Rachel Harper/Democrat-News)

[Click to enlarge]

Vince Lutterbie, Ward 2, made a motion to accept the election results as final and Barbara Utlaut, Ward 1, seconded it. All members of the council approved.

City Clerk Janet French gave the oath of office to: Connie J. Latimer, four-year term of mayor; Lin Alexander, two-year term of city attorney; Edward B. McInteer, two-year term of municipal court judge; Diane Green, two-year term of city treasurer; Barbara Utlaut, two-year term of council member Ward 1; Gabe Ramsey, two-year term of council member Ward 2; Sam Moten, two-year term of council member Ward 3; and Lorna Alexander, two-year term of council member Ward 4.

In other business, the city approved bids recommended from the department of municipal services meeting that was prior to the city council meeting.

Musselman and Hall Contractor of Kansas City was awarded the bid for type II emulsified asphalt slurry seal surfacing of streets. The bid states that after the company receives the receipt of notice to proceed, they will begin the project in 10 days and be completed in five days.

Marshall Paving Company of Marshall was awarded the bid for asphaltic concrete materials, pavements, overlays and spot wedging. They were the low bidder of two bids in the areas of materials the city uses the most.

APAC-Missouri Inc. of Columbia was awarded the bid for cold milling of streets.

"We were shocked on these bids," said Marie Fowler, assistant director, at the department of municipal services meeting. "We called to get estimates. We were returned a bid of $2.55 to $2.60."

APAC returned a bid of $.94 per square yard. The next bid up from the low bid was $1.45 and the high bid was $2.45.

Dan Brandt, Ward 3, recommended to the council that the department of municipal services have the power to execute such transactions as needed for the Elgin street sweeper exchange proposal. The council approved.

The proposal is an "apples to apples" trade of the city's Johnston sweeper for the Elgin sweeper. Elgin wants the Johnston sweeper for research and development into why the product can be sold so cheaply.

The Johnston was purchased 15 months ago and has well over 1,000 hours and 11,000 miles, said Bill Anderson, director, at the department of municipal services meeting.

"They are willing to trade us a brand spanking new 2008 Elgin Whirlwind sweeper."

Anderson said the only difference is that one is stainless steel and the other is steel, but advances have been made on the Elgin steel body to make it rust- resistant and the company guarantees it.

"I can't see us passing this by," Fowler said.

The department's operator and mechanic will have the opportunity to drive and look over the Elgin demonstration vehicle over that will be arriving for the city's use this week before the trade decision is made.

The department of municipal services is also looking into the purchase of a new 3250 John Deere tractor for mowing purposes.

The department received a bid with the state's discount, which they can receive due to the municipality of the department. The discount is 26 percent which brings the original price of the tractor from $24,420 to $18,070.80.

"This is by far the best deal," Anderson said. "It is just exactly what we want."

Fowler said the tractor is the same as two others that the city owns and uses a lot. One is seven years old with 8,000 hours and the other is six years old with 5,500 hours, Anderson said.

"When we buy under state bid, we get the best deal and we can still buy local," Fowler said. "We don't think we could get a better price."

The tractor will be purchased from Deems Farm Equipment of Marshall.

Moving on to the approval of ordinances, the code committee prepared 10 ordinances to update safety codes. The city council approved all of them.

"All of these codes keep us in good graces with ISO (International Standardization Organization)," said Mike Morgan, city code official. "They are not serious changes but an upgrade."

These ordinances include the adoption of the 2006 edition of the International Private Sewage Disposal Code, International Property Maintenance Code, International Residential Code, International Mechanical Code, International Plumbing Code, International Fuel Gas Code, International Fire Code, International Energy Conservation Code and International Building Code, and the adoption of the 2005 edition of the National Electrical Code.

Lutterbie asked the council to reappoint Brandt and Ramsey to the grievance board and the council approved.

David Kemm asked the council to approve his next Take Pride in Marshall clean-up for June 30.

Ron Duvall, Ward 4, said, "I would rather see just one good one a year and not several with small turnouts."

Duvall moved to have just one clean-up a year instead of several, and the council approved.

The next city council meeting will be May 7 at 5:15 p.m. in the council chambers.

Contact Rachel Harper at

marshallcity@socket.net