Durant City Council

Durant passes several COVID-19 related measures

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Durant city officials practiced social distancing techniques at a March 23 city council meeting, the first of which since several social measures have been taken and mandated in the state to fight the ongoing novel coronavirus COVID-19 outbreak.

Present for the meeting were city council members Dave Schulz and Dan Sterner, Mayor Scott Spengler, City Clerk Deana Cavin and Police Chief Orville Randolph. All were positioned in the room so that there was plenty of distance from one another. Council members Diane Quiram and Kevin Mundt called in via a new conference call method. Member Noel Price was absent.

Council passed several measures in response to COVID-19, including an emergency declaration stating, in part, that the city of Durant is now declared to be in a state of emergency “in an effort to proactively reduce the effects of the pandemic.”

A resolution was also approved allowing temporary electronic public meetings in order to ensure that meeting attendance stay below the 10-person threshold. Starting March 23, all meetings of the city council will also be conducted electronically until further notice.

The group also later approved a resolution laying out a preparedness plan for COVID-19 within Durant, with one of the rules being City Hall remaining closed until further notice. Cavin mentioned that residents may now pay city bills online via credit card at the city’s website. Payments may also be made over the phone. She also said the city would work with folks who have trouble with paying utility bills, noting that it was not recommended to shut off water to people’s homes at this time due to continued hygiene needs during the pandemic.

FD and PD to purchase equipment

Several equipment purchases were approved for the Durant Police Department and Fire Department.

A $50,000 bid was approved to purchase a 2020 Ford F150 from Alpen Ford in Durant to be used as the fire department’s fire chief vehicle. Fire Chief and Public Works Director Jared Semsch called into the meeting and explained that the new truck would replace a 2001 Chevy Suburban originally bought used from Henry Bentley. He said the new vehicle would be used to “go to meetings and for bringing materials to large fires.”

He said that Durant Firefighters Inc. would pay $25,000; $10,000 would come from a donation made by the late Joey Gehrls; and the remaining $15,000 would come from the city’s fire department budget.

Member Quiram asked if it was necessary to purchase a new one. Semsch said the new vehicle would come with a warranty and would last the department a very long time.

Bids for two new guns were approved for the Durant Police Department. Council approved the purchase of a Rock River Tac Rail AR33T rifle at a cost of $1,125; and a Remington 1100 12-gauge magnum (used) shotgun at a cost of $650. Both purchases will be from Rick Overton Guns in Durant.

Council also approved purchasing several different kinds of ammunition at a total cost of $613.48, which Police Chief Randolph said would be used primarily for weapon qualification by officers on the squad.

The purchase of a DVR camera system in the Student Resource Officer (SRO) vehicle was also approved at a cost of $5,900. There will also be a $551 charge for installation of the system, for a total of $6,451. Randolph noted that $4,500 would be funded through Governor’s Traffic Safety Bureau (GTSB) funds.

Miscellany

In other action, council:

* Approved a service agreement with MSA Professional Services in the amount of $35,250 for work related to an upcoming 12th Avenue sanitary sewer replacement project, which includes sewer lines from Fifth to Fourth streets with a portion located beneath the Iowa Interstate Railroad.

* Approved the purchase of a new John Deere 1570 Terrain Cut Commercial Front Mower from Sinclair Tractor in Durant at a cost of $27,000. The city will trade in a 2013 John Deere 1445 model and receive $6,000 in trade, leaving a purchase price of $21,000. The mower purchase will be made July 1 when the new budget year begins.

Member Schulz asked if this was the mower that would be the city’s “work horse.” Semsch said yes, it will typically be in operation five days a week in the warmer months.

* Tabled a $33,360 bid from Kluesner Construction in Farley for replacing asphalt on First Avenue from Highway 6 to the lift station driveway. Semsch mentioned that Yankee Avenue area gets heavy traffic and the road is breaking down in spots. Mayor Spengler asked if the city should consider replacing it with concrete instead of asphalt. A new bid will be solicited.

* Approved a $21,628.60 bid from Kluesner Construction to repair asphalt at the intersections of Fifth Street and Seventh Avenue, and Fifth Avenue and Sixth Street.

* Approved a $66,057.20 bid from Kluesner Construction for asphalt street overlay on Ninth Street from Ninth Avenue to Seventh Avenue, and a portion of Seventh Avenue near Ninth Street. The Kluesner Construction repairs will be done after July 1 when the new budget year begins.

All action taken was unanimous. The next regular meeting will be April 13 at 6 p.m. at Durant City Hall.

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