12-18-23-WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION - DECEMBER 18, 2023 3 Mr. Nesler stated mobilization is the cost for the contractor to get to the site; get equipment there, get set up, insurance etc. Councilmember Fabel asked if the cost of the project would be paid from the water utility fees. City Administrator Perrault replied yes, it would. Councilmember Rousseau wondered if they go for the UASI grant would it be possible they can try for everything but if they don't get the grant or only get a portion of the money they could remove some of the more optional items? Mr. Nesler responded yes, they could set it up with a base bid and alternate add ons. Mayor Grant asked about the timing of the grant. Assistant Public Works Director Miller stated grant applications are accepted in late January/early February. Mr. Nesler added that the UASI grant is the only one coming up that would allow them to bid the project and get it ready for construction in 2024. The other funding options application dates have passed and if they waited to apply for them it would push the project out another year. Mayor Grant asked if that would be for the security or the security and repairs. Mr. Nesler said it would be for security, he thought everything could be applied for with the Small Cities grant, and the Drinking Water Revolving Loan Fund would be a low interest loan. There would be no guarantee of receiving either of those. Councilmember Holden felt they were adding a fence that really wasn't securing the water tower. Mr. Nesler said it would be more secure than it is today. Councilmember Holden said the water fund is good but they've been pushing hard for the last five years asking for State bonding for water projects so they could pay for water meters and there wasn't a significant increase in people's water bills when the million dollars came due. It's nice the water fund is good but there's a reason why they've been keeping it healthy. She asked when they would secure the second water tower — could they apply for a grant for both of them? Did they have to be doing construction on the other tower in order to put security on it? Could they ask for additional money to do the other water tower? Assistant Public Works Director Miller didn't know the timing on the other tower, he'd have to ask the Public Works Director. He thought adding the security was being done at a favorable time because they would already be working on the tower. Mr. Nesler added that he'd have to look at details on the security grant. Typically, the grants would require the money be spent within a certain amount of time, and some grants require plans to be submitted with the application.