City turns focus to structure repairs

Some city structures are slated for repairs following approval Tuesday night by the Fort Scott City Commission.

Commissioners approved repairs to be made to the wall of the Kress Building, located at 17 S. Main St., as well as masonry repair work to the stone walls and seating around the Fort Scott Aquatic Center, located at 723 Scott Ave.

The commission awarded both of these projects to JCL&S Contracting, Inc., a local company owned by Tim Bradbury.

City Manager Dave Martin and Codes Manager Brent Crays appeared before the commission to discuss planned repairs to the wall of the Kress building, located near the grassy area at Wall and Main streets, where the Miller and Nelson blocks once stood prior to the 2005 downtown fire.

"To develop that green space, we need to fix that wall on the Kress building. It's a joint wall," Martin said. "We have some plans for that (grassy) area."

Martin said he has met with Dean Mann, who owns the building, and Mann has agreed to split the cost of fixing the wall with the city. Total cost for the project is estimated to be $67,900.

"That's in our best interest money-wise," Martin said.

For the project, the contractor will remove one vertical layer of veneer brick and dispose of all debris. Extra brick removal will be done at a cost of 37 cents per brick, if required. The contractor will install a steel lintel at the base of the wall for a weight existing structure, and will then install the new brick veneer wall.

The contractor will flash over new lintel and install weep tubes every two feet. Brick ties will be installed every 16 inches on the center. Galvanized cap will be installed at the top of the wall for a water-tight envelope, according to information submitted to the city by JCL&S.

"It's (the building) very solid inside," Martin said. "The big hangup for us has been the wall."

Crays said the 2005 downtown fire did not affect the foundation of the Kress building.

City officials said three bids were received for the Kress wall repairs. Information on other bidders was not available.

JCL&S also won the bid for repairs to rock walls and seating around the aquatic center. Commissioners approved the company's $35,700 bid for the project, which involves repair to 4,000-square-feet of steps and seats, including, but not limited to, the deteriorated or missing mortar joints.

Parks Supervisor Todd Farrell said this project will be done in three phases. Three bids were received, two being local companies, and "each met or exceeded our specs," Farrell said.

Farrell said after the project is complete, he would like to set up a process in which the stone areas around the aquatic center are sprayed with repellent "to prevent this from happening again."

Other bidders for the aquatic center project were Mid-Continental Restoration Company, Inc., of Fort Scott, which submitted a $40,835 bid, and Innovative Masonry Restoration, LLC, of Kansas City, Kan., which submitted a bid of $56,579.

During the meeting, the commission also approved the $14,700 bid from Joe Wimmer of Fort Scott to lease about 104 acres of land near the wastewater treatment plant for farming purposes. The land is offered for a 12-month period only. As part of the lease, the winning bidder must keep weeds along all roadways trimmed and will be required, when requested by the city, to disc one time the other approximately 100 acres the city is applying bio-solids.

"It's where we haul sludge to," Wastewater Plant Supervisor Jim Cox said. "We have over 200 acres but we only need 100. Anyone can rent the other 100 acres."

Three bids were received: Triple M Farms of Fort Scott submitted a $13,650 bid and J.W. Endicott of Fort Scott submitted an $11,500 bid.

In other business, the commission:

* Approved the consent agenda, which included appropriation ordinances totaling $352,484; a temporary cereal malt beverage license for the MMA Blackout Fighting Championship Feb. 22; and three resolutions and notices of hearing regarding alleged dangerous and unsafe structures and accessory structures located at 614 Heylman, 118 N. National Ave. and 120 N. National Ave., and set public hearing dates for those structures for 6:15 p.m. April 1.

* Following a public hearing, approved a resolution directing the repair or removal of an unsafe and dangerous structure and accessory structure located at 1234 E. Elm St. Commissioners approved allowing 60 days for the structures to be brought up to code. Crays said he has not been contacted by the property's current owner.

* Approved the use of Gunn Park for a Holden's Hope Hero Run on May 4. Tim Guilfoyle, the father of 9-year-old Holden Guilfoyle, who has a rare genetic disorder called MPS VI, appeared before the commission to request use of the park for the 5K run. Proceeds will go to MPS research in honor of Holden and to his parents to help offset continued medical costs.