Rogers City Council reviews purchases, contracts, agreements

ROGERS -- A new police vehicle, continued road improvement and a designation to the Northwest Arkansas Nutrient Trading Research and Advisory Group are in the works for the city.

The City Council met Tuesday and approved a few proposals impacting utilities, a road project and the process for competitive bidding.

Anniversary

The Rogers chapter of Altrusa International celebrated its 100th anniversary with cake and punch after the City Council meeting. The chapter of the nonprofit organization has been in operation for 60 years, said alderman Mark Kruger.

Source: Staff Report

The council authorized a contract with Superior Auto of Siloam Springs to buy a Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 for the Police Department. The Finance Committee waived competitive bidding. The Police Department purchased 11 vehicles from Superior earlier this year because the company's cost estimates beat the state bid. Each purchase was $1,100 less per vehicle.

Chief Hayes Minor said this purchase for about of $46,000 matched the state bid.

The city budgeted $377,489 to buy the department vehicles in 2017.

The council also approved an amendment to its agreement for the city and the Rogers Waterworks and Sewer Commission's joint membership in the Northwest Arkansas Nutrient Trading Research and Advisory Group. The group is a regional partnership among Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale and Fayetteville for phosphorus trade.

The amended agreement allows Jene Huffman-Gilreath, Water Utilities shared services manager, to be a designated representative to the group on behalf of Rogers Water and Sewer Commission in addition to Water Utilities Superintendent Earl Rausch, said attorney Robert Frazier. Mayor Greg Hines is the official city designee to the regional group and other designations allow those appointed to represent the city as well. Steve Glass, former planning director, held the title of designated representative previously, he said.

The city will enter a contract with Black Hills Energy to move utilities for the Perry Road project. Money will go to removing utility boxes out of a trail yet to be constructed, and the sum not to exceed $35,000 has already been allocated, said Jennifer Waymack, senior staff attorney.

The council amended provisions of the city code concerning competitive bidding to ensure compliance with state and federal purchasing laws and requirements. Waymack said the city was already abiding by those laws, but hadn't updated the code to reflect them.

NW News on 04/12/2017

Upcoming Events