Ambulance facility and fire truck bids awarded
The city of Littlefork is in very good shape financially, Don Zierke of the firm Miller McDonald reported Thursday at Littlefork City Hall.
City Administrator Mike Fairchild said Zierke’s in-person review before the city council went smoothly and quickly without major concerns or issues. Discussed was the substantial balance held in the city’s municipal liquor store fund which allows discretionary usage for “rainy day” issues as well as transfers to the general fund for city projects, Fairchild explained.
Fairchild informed the council that Littlefork’s local government aid was not cut by the state and the city “escaped unallotment.” The city will see a loss of just $11,000 in market value credits, Fairchild told The Journal.
From four quotations received, a construction bid of $112,000 for the new ambulance facility was awarded to Sam’s Construction of Littlefork, owned by Sam Hege. The updated facility which will be adjunct to the Littlefork Fire Hall is projected to be completed by the end of March 2011, said Fairchild. Specific preconstruction work including water and sewer utility systems will be implemented by the city’s Maintenance Department.
Clarifications on fire truck bids required a review by City Attorney Joe Boyle and resulted in recessing Thursday’s meeting until Friday night. The purchase of a 2009 fire truck for $188,500 was awarded to RNOW of Wisconsin. The council approved a resolution to advertise announcement of the bid. If more than 10 percent of the voters in the last election express opposition to the expenditure, the item would appear on the November ballot, Fairchild explained. Without opposition, ownership is expected in the next few weeks.
A similar resolution was approved regarding expenditures for the resurfacing of the city’s water tower, a project expected to be completed this summer.
The old wooden Jackpine Savage statue will go out for bids, according to Fairchild. The area on Main Street on which it once stood now features a new fiberglass Jackpine Savage.
Fletcher Heating of International Falls was granted the heating and cooling project at the Littlefork Liquor Store with two furnaces and two air conditioner systems expected to be installed in late summer. Fairchild said the council is currently researching expanding the off-sale portion of the establishment.
Heidi Vork was hired Thursday as a casual bartender for the liquor store.
The services of Wendt Electric of Littlefork for the amount of $500 were approved to provide an inventory assessment of Littlefork’s power generator needs.
The council granted a sponsorship request by the Northern Minnesota District Fair in the amount of $1,000.
Littlefork City Council positions for the November ballot include the following:
• Two-year mayoral term, now held by Shane Williams who serves his first term.
• Four-year council seat, now held by Michael Fort, who in December 2009, assumed the remaining one-year in the term of Noel Schroeder who resigned.
• Four-year council seat, now held by Kevin Sather, who in December 2009, assumed the remaining one-year in the term of Glenn Weigold who resigned.
