The Washington City Council voted Tuesday to reject the low bid for a project to paint one of the city's two water towers.
The vote came after Washington resident Tyler Shirley, representing the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 157 of Peoria, spoke against the low bidder, LC United of Sterling Heights, Mich.
Shirley listed several concerns with LC United, including OSHA violations with $56,210 in penalties following a 2015 accident at a water tower in Baraboo, Wis.
LC United was the lowest of six bidders for the Washington No. 2 water tower project at $251,000. Seven Brothers Painting of Shelby Township, Mich., was next at $269,000. LC United wasn't expected to do the work until next spring.
While LC United's low bid was $251,000, Public Works Director Brian Rittenhouse allocated $285,000 for the project from the city's water fund to cover any unexpected problems.
Council members John Blundy, Bobby Martin III, Jamie Smith and Lili Stevens voted no for the low bid. Brett Adams and Mike Brownfield voted yes. Brian Butler and Mike McIntyre didn't vote because they weren't at the meeting.
The vote drew the ire of Mayor Gary Manier, who said he was very disappointed.
"This is not what policy makers are supposed to do," he said. "We need to trust our staff and the engineering firm we hired for the project."
Dixon Engineering of Lake Odessa, Mich., listed LC United as an approved bidder for the project. That didn't sway Blundy's vote.
"I've stayed in five-star hotels that aren't five-star hotels," he said.
City Attorney Derek Schryer said the vote could have legal ramifications for the city.
"Council needs solid reasoning to not accept the lowest responsible bidder for a project," he said. "I don't know that an incident 10 years ago is enough."
Rittenhouse asked the council for direction on what to do next. He was asked to look into the allegations against LC United.
Dixon was hired by the city in 2021 to inspect the water tower, located on Constitution Street, across from the Washington Fire Department's burn house.
"It was recommended that the water tower get a new topcoat because of several spot failures, and get some minor improvements," Rittenhouse said. "A new topcoat will protect the undercoating and give the tower another 10-15 years of protection."
The council did unanimously approve hiring Dixon for $38,350 to provide oversight and inspections for the project, whenever it is done.
Rittenhouse said Dixon has expertise in water towers, and did the same oversight and inspection work when the city's water tower No. 1 was repainted several years ago by low bidder Seven Brothers. Water tower No. 1 is on 911 Drive off Main Street.
"It's important to make sure the (water tower No. 2) project is completed to specifications to get the maximum protection and life expectancy," Rittenhouse said.
City administrator's separation agreement called 'fiscally responsible'
Tuesday marked the first council meeting that City Administrator Jim Snider missed since he went on paid administrative leave Friday until he voluntarily resigns Feb. 3, 2025.
Snider will continue to receive his regular pay and benefits plus an additional $100 during the five-month stretch. On Feb. 3, he'll receive a $38,579 lump sum payment.
In exchange, Snider won't file legal claims against elected officials, city staff members and others connected to the city. His separation agreement with the city includes a proclamation that the agreement itself isn't an admission by the city that it acted wrongfully against Snider.
Snider's salary for the 2024-25 fiscal year is $161,362. It was $151,156 for the 2023-24 fiscal year.
Council member Lili Stevens, who cast one of the two no votes along with John Blundy on Snider's separation agreement Aug. 19, said Tuesday she voted that way because she thought Snider should work through February because he had an employment agreement with the city.
Council member Bobby Martin III disagreed. He said the separation agreement was "fiscally responsible based on the scenario we were facing." He did not elaborate.
"It was best for the city," said council member Brett Adams.
Snider was hired as Washington's city administrator in 2021. He previously was the Rock Island County administrator since 2018.
Central Intermediate School students say thank you for Eagle Avenue sidewalk
Six members of the Central Intermediate School Student Council lined up at the public comment microphone Tuesday and thanked the council for paving the way for the recently completed construction of a sidewalk along the east side of Eagle Avenue from the school's parking lot to Eagle's intersection with U.S. Business Route 24.
The project was rejected for a state Safe Routes to School grant in 2021, so the city picked up the slack and the $109,852 price tag.
The Eagle-Business Route 24 intersection is a busy one for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Central students now have a safe way to walk from the school to the intersection, where they can use the traffic signal to get to the Dairy Queen and other locations across the street, the student council members said.
"I've been doing this for a while. We usually don't have people step up to the microphone and thank us," said Mayor Gary Manier. "I appreciate the courage it took for these young people to get up there and speak."
City pays for Washington Fire Station sleeping quarters
The four full-time paramedics in the Washington Fire Department who work 24-hour shifts used to sleep in a converted first-floor conference room at the fire station.
They're now sleeping in "more appropriate sleeping quarters on the second floor," according to Police Chief Mike McCoy, who also is the city's public safety director.
On Tuesday, the council approved a $20,410 payment to the fire department for projects to return the first-floor space back to a conference room and create the second-floor sleeping quarters.
An initial invoice of $4,590 for the work was previously paid by the city.
Paving on the horizon for Freedom Parkway and Nofsinger Road projects
Two major road projects in Washington are nearing milestones.
City Engineer Dennis Carr, in his report Tuesday to the council, said paving work on the Freedom Parkway extension should begin Thursday, and paving work on the new intersection in the Nofsinger Road realignment project should begin Sept. 18.
Carr also reported that work on the Catherine Street reconstruction project was halted last week because of damage done to an MTCO fiber optic line. Work resumed today.
Here's why St. Mark's Lutheran Church took down a building it owns
St. Mark's Lutheran Church demolished a building it owns at 142 S. Main St.
"The church explored options to reuse the building, but determined the cost to retrofit it would be substantial. The vacant land is tentatively planned to be used for additional parking and greenspace," said Jon Oliphant, the city's planning and development director, in his report Tuesday to the council.
St. Mark's is at 200 S. Main St.
Oliphant also said the Washington Historical Society's request to the city for reimbursement for $27,275 in improvements needed on the society's headquarters building at 128 Washington Square because of the construction of the downtown square restaurant is tentatively planned for a first reading Sept. 16.
The historical society also is seeking reimbursement from LaSalle-based CL Real Estate, the developer of the Grist Mill restaurant, for damages done to its headquarters building during construction.
Police report: three officers enter field training, two sergeants needed
Three officers have graduated from basic law enforcement training and entered field training in Washington, Police Chief Mike McCoy said Tuesday in his report to the council.
McCoy also said there are two sergeant openings in the police department, and two officer candidates have completed testing and will go the city's Police Commission for consideration to be added to the hiring list.
