Bids approved for several Sikeston street projects

SIKESTON — Sikeston residents should soon begin seeing work on some city streets as officials approved the bids of several projects during Monday’s city council meeting.

Council approved the bids for the reconstruction of Baker Lane (North Kingshighway to Allen Boulevard) and for the reconstruction of South New Madrid/Trotter Street intersection replacement with associated drainage work.

The bid for Baker Lane was to Lappe Cement Finishing of Friedham, Missouri, for a price of $248,721.70, while Fronabarger Concreters of Oak Ridge, Missouri, was awarded the bid for S. New Madrid and Trotter for $71,790.

Also, Council awarded the bid for the milling and asphalting of: Scott Street (West Malone to West North); West North Street (Luther to North West); Shady Lane (Ables to Oklahoma); Comstock (Crowe to cul-de-sac); Collins Drive (S Prairie to cul-de-sac) and Benton Street (Warner to cul-de-sac).

This bid also included one alternate which includes the milling and asphalting of West Wakefield or what is better known as Power Plant Road west of the bridge to Highway BB.

ASA Asphalt Company of Cape Girardeau was awarded both the base bid and the alternate bid for a total of $429,806.66.

Not all of the projects on the City’s 2022 Street Plan were included in the bids Monday.

“We’re not seeking approval of all of our projects today because, like a lot of things right now, costs came in a little higher than expected,” said Jay Lancaster, Sikeston Director of Public Works. “One of the four different projects we bid we are going to hit pause on and see how some other costs come out to see if we can free up some money to do all the projects.”

Lancaster said they still hope to do the other project which included some seal coating and crack repair but it was the lower priority of the ones they were looking at.

He added the projects do not include other street work previously discussed at council meetings involving a Community Development Block Grant. Lancaster said they hope to hear something on that grant next week which would allow for an additional $700,000 for work in low to moderate income areas.

“It would be one of the biggest street programs we’ve had since I’ve been here,” Lancaster said. “We’re really excited about that.”

In other action Monday:

• Council approved a purchase agreement with Alan Wire. The agreement allows BMU to sell a 50-foot strip of the power plant property to Alan Wire as the business faced a challenge in their expansion plan because they needed more space to allow truck access to the new building extension.

• Council amended the qualifications for appointment to Tourism Advisory Board to read “Members shall be residents of Sikeston or be employed by a Sikeston business with a demonstrated interest in tourism.” This will give local businesses (such as hotels) with employees who do not reside in Sikeston an opportunity to be part of the Tourism Board.

• Council readopted the City’s Fair Housing Policy.

• Council appointed Brenda Robinson-Echols to the LCRA.

• Council appointed Jessica Merideth to the SEMO University-Sikeston Advisory Council.

• Council approved renewing the city’s property and casualty insurance for $342,579 to Marsh Wortham Insurance for the period of May 1, 2022, through May 1, 2023. Costs increased $37,761 above last year. Amanda Groves, Sikeston’s HR director, said the main driving factor of this year’s increase is property values. In 2021 the property limit was $40,174,616 and 2022 it is $53,889,165.

• Council approved the renewal of Cyber Security Insurance to Beazley Breach Response for $18,220 for $1 million in coverage with a $25,000 deductible for the period of May 1 through May 1, 2023.

• Council approved leasing temporary office space for Carlisle Construction Materials for $875 per month for 1,500 square-feet of space at Montgomery Bank. The leasing of office space was part of the incentive package that was approved in 2021 for Carlisle Construction Materials.