March 19, 2024

Demolition bids in for former Juice and Junk

A contract awarding the demolition of the former Juice and Junk property and two additional projects will go before city council on Monday. A low bid of $69,495 from Iowa Demolition, Inc. of Des Moines is recommended for approval.

City council approved the purchase of the former Juice and Junk along with the 10.49 acres surrounding the property at its March 7 meeting. With the purchase, the city intended to take down the former Juice and Junk building along with the 56 mini-storage units located in four separate buildings on the property.

As a part of the demolition, Iowa Demolition will also remove asbestos found in the structure. Also in the bid is the demolition of the building at 748 N. Third Ave. E. The property was purchased through the D&D Program in May 2015.

The final part of the bid includes the removal of asbestos from an abandoned restroom building at Maytag Park. Only asbestos will be removed from the building with no demolishing taking place.

Also on the agenda, the council will look at the purchase of mobile computer hardware for the Fire and EMS reporting record management software.

While researching efficiencies in the department, the city found by implementing the previously purchased record management software a reduction in process steps by 43 percent from 139 to 79 and handoffs by 50 percent from 10 to five could be achieved.

The purchase of the mobile tablets to provide the best interface and durable hardware to fully utilize the new records management software is recommended to achieve full efficiency. A single bid of $15,103 from Keltek, Inc. of Baxter was received by the city.

To complete previously approved work at Westwood Golf Course, the council will look at the updated project for the 9-hole automatic irrigation improvement.

City council passed a resolution in September awarding a contract to Leibold Irrigation, Inc. of East Dubuque, Ill. for $381,637. The total project cost including construction costs and engineering design came above the contracted amount at $419,409.

To cover the additional costs, the purchase of a golf mower and utility cart were deferred. Additional funds were saved by the golf staff constructing golf cart paths in-house instead of contracting the work.

With the cost saving methods, the total Westwood Irrigation project cost will be paid utilizing the 2015 bond proceeds.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com