Farmington Panel Accepts Library Bid

FARMINGTON —The Farmington City Council recently accepted a low bid of $77,200 from Pick-it Construction to renovate the new Farmington Public Library, though the bid was about $30,000 higher than the estimated cost.

The new library will be located in the former Pizza Breadeaux building, 175 Cimarron Place. The city bought the building and the lot next door for $300,000, using $200,000 from the general reserve fund and a $150,000 private donation.

The library will pay for the work with $70,000 from its reserve fund and $7,200 from the city’s general fund. The city received $6,000 from selling restaurant equipment left in the building and Mayor Ernie Penn said this money also could be used for renovating the building.

The library has another $10,000 from the Walton Family Foundation for furnishings and shelving.

Al Videtto, information technology director, discussed which fixed assets the city has that could be removed from the Asset Management List and which ones should be added to it.

Videtto explained a list of items given to council members. Items such as the fire rescue boat and trailer that was bought last year and housed at the Lincoln Fire Department was added, whereas items still listed on the asset list such as older model computers at the library, which no longer exist, could be removed.

Videtto said once the fixed asset list is updated, bar codes are going to be assigned to every item and there will be a book with the bar codes and instructions on how to find each item, which will make it easier for auditors to get through an auditing process.

Too, he added, it will make it easier for city employees to keep up with assets.

This would include cityowned property.

Council members voted unanimously to approve changes to the Asset Management List.

Chuck Wood, city manager, said the city is looking at having employee credit cards that will have individual statements.

“The bank will provide a person’s name, account number and amount assigned,” Rhonda Hulse said. “It will make the employees responsible. We can give someone $0 limit or $1,000 credit.

Alderman Bob McDonald asked about every employee getting a credit card.

“No, just the ones who need it,” Rhonda Hulse said.

Wood said a person from the bank would attend the October meeting to explain further the individual accounts.

In other business, the council approved a new $ 5,400 air conditioner for the fire department.

Mayor Rob Hulse ended the meeting with praise for Kenneth Reeves, Chamber of Commerce president, who died Sept. 6.

“I had an opportunity to work with Kenneth for several years,” Hulse said. “He was passionate about the city and his faith. He will be missed.”

Concrete has been poured at the new Lincoln Public Library, located on the downtown square, according to Mayor Hulse. The rafters are in place and Wood said the walls would be going up this week.

The next city council meeting will be Oct. 14 at 7 p. m. at Lincoln City Hall.