Updates given on plaza, ambulance substation

Sit and listen was the order of the meeting as Pontiac’s city council members were updated on Centennial Plaza and the ambulance substation on Monday night.

City Administrator Jim Woolford gave the update on Centennial Plaza, pointing out that lighting for the structure has arrived. The current lighting on the structure is obsolete, Woolford said. Durham Electric has been preparing the structure for the installation.

ACE Sign will be install the lettering on the front of the canopy. This was to be done last week but the weather was not cooperative, Woolford said.

Woolford added that the plaza will open when it is completed and that the official grand opening will take place in conjunction with Red Carpet Corridor.

The ambulance substation has been delayed due to engineering working for Graber Buildings, Woolford said. Graber has since ceased working on the project and SKS Engineers has taken over.

Building Systems has asked SKS for a revision of concrete and rebar costs. Woolford said changes that have taken place have brought the footing costs down by approximately $50,000.

The main news out of the Committee as a Whole meeting on Sept. 30 is the ice skating rink will not be opened this winter. Mayor Kelly Eckhoff said that warmer weather and low turnout the last couple years has led the city to make this decision.

Cemetery Sexton Jim Melvin requested a Kubota UTV for cemetery work to replace the aging John Deere Gator. The council approved the request. The new UTV comes at a cost of $29,771.58 and it will be ordered through Stoller International via Sourcewell. The cost comes in right at the budgeted amount.

The other votes were the consent agenda. The items on the consent agenda were the minutes from the Oct. 5 meeting and the payment of bills totaling $861,857.97.