Progress continues to be made in Motley toward making two major city projects a reality. Those projects include a new Wastewater Treatment Facility; and the Beaulieu Street Area Improvements project.

Di-Mar Construction, Inc., of Excelsior, has been awarded the contract for Motley’s Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project.

In a unanimous vote at their regular meeting July 13, the Motley City Council accepted the Excelsior company’s bid of $2,280,000 and authorized Widseth, Smith and Nolting (city engineers) to issue notice of award for the project.

The council later amended that motion, stating that the notice of award would not be sent out until there was a successful completion of a Public Hearing (in regard to special assessments for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project).

Five bids had been received for this project, with Di-Mar Construction, Inc., the lowest, reported WSN engineer Mark Hallan.

Other bids received included:

o Eagle Construction Co. Inc., $2,348,900

o Municipal Builders, Inc., $2,390,800

o Magney Construction, Inc., $2,507,700

o Gridor Construction, Inc., $2,764,370

The engineer’s estimate was $2,600,000.

In a separate motion, the council approved having WSN move into Phase Four (the construction phase) of the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project. Estimated time of completion is June 2011.

The city on July 13, also moved forward on securing financing for the Beaulieu Street Area project.

Previously, the city had voted to sell taxable Build America Bonds to fund this project.

Bond rating and bid results were presented to the council by financial Advisor David Drown, of David Drown Associates in Minneapolis, with United Bankers Bank the low bidder.

Drown mentioned to the council that the city had received an “A rating” from the bond rating agency. He attributed this excellent score to the city’s restraint in its budget (especially in light of tight finances nationwide) as well as the great job Terri Smith (Motley’s Clerk/Treasurer) did in answering their questions.

Based on this score, the city sold bonds competitively and received a number of bids. Since the city was moving forward with the construction of the Beaulieu Street Area, Drown recommended that the city move forward with the financing of the project.

After some discussion, the council accepted United Bankers Bank’s bid; and will purchase Taxable G.O. Improvement Bonds for $785,062.50, with a net effective rate of 3.3510 percent.

Other bids received included:

o Northland Securities (Build America Bid), purchase price $785,062.50, with a net effective rate of 3.5569 percent

o Cronin & Company (Build America Bid), purchase price of $785,068.15, net effective rate of 3.7233 percent.

In other matters the council:

o ACCEPTED the contract of Widseth, Smith and Nolting, for construction engineering services for the Beaulieu Street Area project in Motley.

o HEARD council member Rob Sampson’s idea for the city to purchase land (currently owned by Cass County) for the purpose of building a city park/ campground and potentially hiking trails. The appraised value for this property (located east of Motley near the Crow Wing River) is $34,700. Discussion between council members indicated that most felt this would be a good investment of taxpayers’ money. Sampson’s suggestion will be brought to both the city’s Parks Committee as well as the Planning & Zoning Commission.

o APPOINTED council member Bruce Mills as an alternate to the Parks Committee.

o APPROVED a motion to have all city personnel keep a daily log for two months, in an effort to help with the yearly budget.

o SET Thursday, July 22, 6 - 8 p.m., budget committee meeting. City Clerk/ Treasurer Smith reminded the council that the budget must be presented at a council meeting in September.

o VOTED to change (in the new calendar year) the compensation for Mayor from $275 per month to $170 per month. The compensation for council members shall remain at $130 per month.

o APPROVED a temporary on-sale 3.2 liquor license for Two Rivers Music Fest. They will have a beer garden Saturday, July 24, on grounds adjacent to Veteran’s Park.

o APPOINTED Lana Hansen, Head Election Judge; and Lorraine Macho, Lydia Goodwater, Terri Smith, Joseph Mrazek, Deanna Thompson and Patsy Roberts, Election Judges.

o APPROVED motion to increase election judge pay. Regular judges will now receive $8/hr. instead of $7; and the Head Judge will receive $10/hr. instead of $9.

o SCHEDULED a Public Hearing, in regard to proposed special assessments for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project for Wednesday, Aug. 11, 6 p.m.

o SET next regular council meeting for Wednesday, Aug. 11, 7 p.m., instead of Tuesday, Aug. 10, because of scheduled elections.