Festus City Council members recently approved about $1.25 million in expenditures, including the purchase of vehicles and equipment for the Police and Public Works departments. Funding has also been allocated for some streetlights, a new sidewalk and other projects.
The $1.25 million figure could change because some of the expenditures were approved as “not to exceed” amounts, so those costs could come in lower, city officials said.
Council members voted 6-0 Oct. 14 on four motions to approve the expenditures for the various departments. Council members Kevin Dennis of Ward 3 and Jim Tinnin of Ward 4 were absent from the meeting.
The council approved one expenditure for the city’s Water Department – a new dump truck for $214,656 through a state bid from Viking-Cives Midwest Inc. of Morley. The council called for the purchase not to exceed $235,000.
Camp said it could take up to a year for the dump truck to become available.
Council members also signed off on one expenditure for the Administration Department – a $20,585 contract awarded to Tubbs & Sons Construction of Lonedell to demolish a house on property the city owns at 11779 Hwy. CC. The company submitted the lowest of five bids for that project.
City Administrator Greg Camp said the house will need to be tested for asbestos, which was not part of the bid.
“If there’s any (asbestos) abatement that needs to be done, that would be in addition to the $20,585,” he said, adding that if asbestos is found, a different company would be hired to abate it.
No start date has been set for the demolition work, Camp said.
He said the city bought the property in August for $173,000 from Kevin Taylor and Teena Peery, and the city might build a second firehouse for the city’s Fire Department on the site.
Festus Police expenditures
■ Four Dodge Durango SUVs for a total of $175,148 through a state bid from Landmark Dodge of Independence.
Festus Police Chief Doug Wendel said the Police Department picked up the new vehicles on Oct. 15, bringing the department’s fleet size to 33 vehicles, with old vehicles phased out as the new ones arrived.
“Our officers are really pleased with the Dodge Durangos for patrol. We are buying more for that reason,” he said.
■ A 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe for $54,036 through a state bid from Don Brown Chevrolet of St. Louis. Chief Doug Wendel said the vehicle will be used by an officer assigned to the department’s new DWI Enforcement Unit. He said the department took possession of the vehicle Oct. 16.
Wendel said the city is funding the new unit with a renewable state Highway Safety Grant, which is covering the cost of the vehicle and the officer’s salary the first year.
■ Five portable Motorola radios for a total of $39,455.50 from Motorola Solutions, the local Motorola supplier. Camp said the department replaces its radios on a rotational basis, phasing out old models. Wendel said the department maintains a total of 32 radios for officers to use.
He said the department has ordered the new radios, but he does not know when they will be delivered.
■ A $20,954 bid from Wireless USA, the company that installs and services the Police Department’s radio system, for the purchase and installation of a basement antenna at the Police Station. Camp said the antenna is needed to improve reception on portable radios when officers are in the basement squad room.
Wendel said the department has ordered the new antenna, but he does not yet have a delivery date.
Public Works expenditures
■ A 2025 bucket truck for $174,642 through a state bid to replace the 2007 bucket truck Public Works employees have been using.
The motion called for the purchase not to exceed $200,000.
“(The price) is subject to change because there is a long delivery time,” Camp said.
He said delivery could take up to a year.
■ A 2025 John Deere wheel loader for $170,350 from McCoy Construction & Forestry of Fenton. The company submitted the lowest of three bids for the piece of equipment. Camp said the vehicle is projected to be delivered in 90 days.
■ The 2025-2026 Public Works salt purchase from CGB of St. Louis, which submitted what the council considered the best of three bids, Camp said. The city will pay CGB up to $135,000 for the season’s salt to fill both of the city’s salt storage structures.
Michael Christopher, the Public Works director, said CGB will fill the city’s salt requests without forcing the city to commit to buying a large quantity of salt.
■ $100,000 to HR Green of St. Louis to collect data and prepare and submit a master plan outlining problems in the city’s stormwater system.
Christopher said HR Green will hold public meetings and send letters to ask residents about their stormwater concerns in order to develop its plan. Camp said the city has never had a stormwater plan.
■ A $64,788.03 contract with TREKK Design Group LLC of Kansas City for right-of-way acquisition and easement payments for a Safe Routes to School Transportation Alternatives Program sidewalk improvement project.
Camp said the project is for “sidewalk connectivity around the (Festus R-6) school campus.”
He said the sidewalks will be installed along Sunshine Drive, West Main Street, Midmeadow Lane and St. Mary’s Lane.
TREKK was chosen off the city’s on-call list for professional services, he said.
■ Five solar streetlights for a total of $28,328 to be installed on Shapiro Drive between Bradley Street and Long Street. The city will buy them from Fonroche Lighting America of Fort Worth, Texas, which submitted the lowest of three bids. In addition, the city will pay $11,000 to MLSI Trades of Fenton to install the streetlights.
Camp said it will be the first time the city has had solar-powered streetlights installed and it will, more or less, be a trial case for them.
■ A $2,256 change order for asphalt fibers for the South Second Street parking lot renovation currently underway. The city hired Jokerst Paving & Contracting of Festus to renovate the parking lot, and the change order brings the project cost to $1,072,950.60.
The project was proposed in the “M2M: Main to Mississippi Plan” designed to improve the downtown Festus-Crystal City area.