01-11-2016 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO: Mayor Keis and Members of City Council FROM: Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE: January 7, 2016 RE: ICWC Contract Renewal The City has been contracting with the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections for the use of a work crew for nearly ten years. The first two or three years the City had the crew for two days a week and they accomplished a lot of work, but it was difficult to come up with projects for such a big crew two days a week for a year. The past six or seven years has been on an as-needed basis. This allows the City to utilize a crew of up to ten offender crew members and a crew supervisor for a full day of work. In the past the crew has completed numerous projects for the City including tree trimming, hydrant painting, manhole cover replacement, construction of a few retaining walls, general right-of-way and park maintenance, and special projects such as sodding the Veteran’s Memorial Park site last November. The cost for the crew is $475 per day for regular time and $67.50 per hour for overtime. The City was only able to use the crew on Fridays in 2015, which is an overtime day, but there is a crew available on Tuesdays in 2016 until it can get another city on a full-time contract. This past year we utilized the crew for extensive tree trimming in the City’s right-of-way, the repair of a storm sewer manhole and pipe in a difficult-to-reach backyard easement, the cleaning of a ditch in another difficult-to-reach area off of Morrison Street, and numerous other projects. The work crew can accomplish large amounts of work during a full day. The crew members work hard and the supervisors do a nice job of directing them. Staff recommends renewing the contract with the State of Minnesota Department of Corrections for 2016 at the terms listed above and in the attached contract.