Hope City Board

By Mark Keith, 05/4/22 12:55 AM

The Hope City Board met Tuesday May 3rd for the first meeting of the month.  After the prayer, pledge,and approval of minutes the board went into the agenda items.

Police Chief J.R Wilson spoke to the board about potential changes in the city purchasing ordinance.  The board updated the ordinance in 2020.  Since then, the legislature has changed the purchasing rules.  A proposed ordinance was considered that would keep the maximum limit a department head can spend is $5,000.  Purchases of $10,000 to $35,000 would require 3 written quotes and a written purchase order from the city manager.  Purchases in excess of $35,000 and public improvements in excess of $50,000 would require competitive bids.  It also would require the competitive bids be advertised in a local news media of general circulation.  City Attorney Randy Wright read the proposed changes in the ordinance.  The board voted to suspend the rules and adopt the ordinance.

The board looked at declaring a 60 foot by 10 foot bridge-like structure that has been in Fair Park since 2012 as surplus property.  The item has been secured to link a walkway over a wetland.  This turned out not to be feasible due to flood plain restrictions.  The item was declared surplus and the city will sell it via online auction process.

The board heard from City Manager Catherine Cook on a bid for a sign for Pavilion Park, the property downtown where the HUB is located.  The bid was for $6,150.  This would be an 18 inch tall metal sign.  The city would have to mount it on a base.  The letters would be 3 dimensional.  The color was discussed and one board member said they didn’t want “Scrapper Orange”.  The board voted to purchase the sign.

The board looked at some plaster work at City Hall.  This would include some pressure washing, repair to the terra cotta, scraping off loose plaster inside not to exceed 1,920 square feet.  This option would cost $84,840.  Another bid was for $69,960 with the pressure washing not to go past the first floor.  Catherine Cook said she wasn’t asking for a waive bid ordinance but wanted the board to think about what they wanted to do.  Cook also noted further needs were for some window replacement, replacing ceiling tiles, and some painting.  Cook said the city will need to look at some heating and air work.  She noted the upstairs heat and air was last replaced about 1991 with grant funds.  This work will probably cost around $135,000.  Cook also talked about some work on some of the doors.  No action was taken.  $100,000 is budgeted this year for City Hall renovations.

Under the City Manager’s Report, Cook said the 6th Street project is progressing as is the Street Scape project.  Street Scape will bid May 25th.  Cook said the city wide clean-up was successful with 761 cubic yards of refuse picked up.  Cook credited Director Mark Ross for getting a large group of volunteers to help.  These included Lions, Kiwanis, Northside Park Volunteers, Band Boosters, Civitan, Calvary Baptist (who did Avenue B two days early), and the Scouts.  Cook noted Train Day and Trade Day is coming up Sunday May 7th.  Director Mark Ross asked Summer Powell to explain a collegiate cornhole group will be participating.   Cook cited the city employees who are working downtown and Mark Ross lauded new downtown employee Mona Still’s efforts.  Mayor Still noted the bicentennial Marker will be unveiled downtown at 9am near the Arts Station Saturday.  Catherine Cook noted Hope Water and Light have installed additional lights at Northside Park. The meeting then adjourned.