Mayors stalled by process for needed repairs

A list of problems detected at the Delano Regional Transfer Station by its insurance company will have to wait a little longer for repair, and maybe until next budget year.

The Transfer Station had advertised for bids recently and the Regional Board of Mayors (RBOM) was scheduled to accept the lone bid Monday. But things got in the way.

At the mayor’s meeting a motion was made to accept the lone bid of $54,904, made by DWK Fowler Construction. It died for a lack of a second.

It may be dead for a long time.

At the end of the meeting, mayors were left with a list of needs, but no resolution.

Before they adjourned, they passed a motion to reject the bid.

Two of the mayors, Paul Townsend of Grand Coulee and Gail Morin of Elmer City, stated they had strong reservations about moving forward with the bid.

Townsend said he would have to have long and serious discussions with his council about the bid. Morin stated that it would be impossible to convince her council to move forward with the bid.

The mayors had gone through this once before and DWK Fowler Construction was the lone firm putting in a bid. It was for the same amount: $54,904.

Among items listed by the insurance company that need immediate attention was “black mold” that the mayors agreed provided an unsafe work environment for workers at the Transfer Station.

When Townsend stated that maybe some of the staff could do some of the repairs, Electric City Mayor John Nordine II, stated, “I wouldn’t ask my crew to deal with the mold.”

Townsend was looking for a way to save money.

To no avail, Chair Greg Wilder tried to find a way to convince the other mayors that the work needed to be done and that the transfer station had the money to do so.

The major problem with getting anything done through the RBOM is that any decision they make has to be approved by the four town and city councils. The mayors present the problem to their respective councils, but often are not able to properly explain the issue or answer council members’ questions.

When a council turns down a Transfer Station need, the issue comes back to the mayors.

Electric City’s city clerk, who oversees the transfer station project on behalf of the city, said that if nothing can be put together, the repair work could be placed in the 2018 budget, which would delay it further.

In other action, mayors agreed to send the Bureau of Reclamation a letter informing the agency that it can no longer dump large timbers and concrete blocks in the transfer trailers. Transfer station employee Randy Gumm said this causes damage to the trailers.

The last trailer the RBOM purchased cost $90,000.

Problems that need fixing

The list of problems the insurance company says need addressing at the Delano Regional Transfer Station includes:

• Asphalt repair and drainage.

• Floor drain and catch basin replacement or repair.

• Remove and replace drywall and insulation in the office and bathroom (includes mold).

• Remove existing shower stall and install shelving in two locations.

• Remove and replace metal entry door and hardware.

• Remove/replace roll-up door.

• Repair siding and roofing.

• Install insulation in shop area.

• Remove existing hot water tank and replace with tankless system.

• Remove and replace GFCI outlets.

• Install emergency and exit lighting.

• Remove and install new shop lighting.