Burlingame City Council
Questionable charges tabled
at year-end meeting

Gabe Faimon
Reporter

BURLINGAME—Opening discussion of a special year-end meeting of the Burlingame City Council focused on a bill submitted by Mike’s Frame Shop for repair of a bucket truck. Utility foreman Gerald Grandstaff attempted to respond to numerous council questions regarding items on the bill.

“The actual bill is over double the bid,” said Burlingame Mayor Brenda Dorr.

Council members expressed a desire to confer with city attorney Rick Godderz regarding the matter. But since Godderz was not present and the bill did not appear to be in conformance with the bid, action was deferred to the next scheduled meeting.

Council also held discussion on the ongoing water project, hearing from Lavene Brenden, representing Bartlett and West Service. Brenden presented communications from the contractor, J & H Construction, Inc., requesting a time extension and reimbursement for additional costs. The request for time extension involved changing the substantial completion date from Dec. 31 to Jan. 31. The contractor stated it would be “using the rest of December to complete the installation of the water main and most of all the services.”

Additionally, the contractor proposed to use the month of January “to complete any service tie-ins … and also have the clean-up completed.” No costs were identified with the deadline extension.

Council adopted council member Carolyn Strohm’s motion to approve the extension on a 2-1 vote, with council member Norm Bloomquist casting the only dissenting vote. The other council member present was Vicki DeMars.

Council requested Brenden to present more information at the next meeting regarding contractor billings that did not appear to be in conformance with the bid.

One issue related to reimbursement for costs and items not included in the contractor’s bid. The council also considered a second non-conforming billing–$10,800 for 380 pieces of retainer glands. Retainer glands are devices installed to preclude movement of lines, which could break connections at valves or tees. By unanimous vote, the three council members adopted DeMars’ motion to table consideration of the issues until the next meeting.

Brenden also presented a request for approval of continuing Bartlett and West’s services to cover inspection and oversight of contractor work related to the council’s earlier action to extend the project completion date. Approval was requested to ensure continued compliance with conditions stipulated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture project grant.

Brenden estimated that costs associated with extending the services would increase from $38,000 to $50,000, plus mileage to and from the inspector’s office in Topeka. Strohm and DeMars voted to extend inspection coverage; Bloomquist voted no.

The next scheduled meeting of the Burlingame City Council is at 7 p.m. Jan. 5.