Topics ranged from lightning warning, insurance policies, parking lot improvements, and a refuse and recycling contract, among many others, at the Sun City board of directors meeting on August 22.
The following is a report on discussions held and actions taken by community directors.
The board is working with the Facility Advisory Committee on what to do with the Thorguard Lightning Monitoring System on the Whisper Creek Golf course. The system needs repair, and several board members reportedly expressed concern about an initial recommendation to abandon the system. According to one estimate, it may cost up to $60,000 to fix it. The board asked the committee to make a recommendation, and the matter will be discussed at the next board meeting on September 26.
Crews resurfacting Meadow View Lodge parking lot. (Photo by Tony Pratt/Sun Day)
Executive Director Deanna Loughran said efforts to reduce utility costs have been successful. New electricity contracts will save nearly $41,500 over the new 6-month period, she said, based on comparable usage. Also, the new contract offer for the community’s natural gas service is nearly five cents per therm lower, for annual savings of more than $32,000, totaling savings of $75,000 over the course of the new 36-month gas contract.
The board unanimously approved renewal of its insurance policies for the year beginning Sept. 1 at a total cost of $604,832. This is an increase of 4.7% from the previous year. This program includes awards to multiple agencies, based on insurance type.
The board also approved the re-appointment of Cal Meyer, and the appointments of Gerri Moskovitz, Allan Brewer, and Gary Meyers, to the Finance Advisory Committee.
Repair of the Millgrove Woodshop and Meadow View Lodge parking lot surfaces was approved for $426,622, the low bid of three. Champion Paving is the vendor.
An $80,000 contract was awarded to Oakwood Construction to upgrade the Drendel Ballroom bathroom. This project includes a dual use drinking fountain.
A project to renovate the art room in Prairie Lodge was tabled pending receipt of additional information from the Pencil & Palette Club regarding the need for locker replacements.
A $27,275 contract was awarded to Gatto Construction to repair stairs at the Millgrove Woodshop deck. This was the low bid of three.
Bids for the new contract on refuse and recycling were solicited from six qualified vendors, but only one, Waste Management, the current service provider, responded. The bid on a new five-year contract was $5.8 million, a 2.5% increase over the current contract, which the board decided was reasonable. It was approved by a 5-1 vote, with board president Dennis O’Leary voting no. O’Leary said he would have preferred that the board take some more time to solicit other bids, and not decide a contract this large on just one bid.
A contract for $33,103 for replacement of administrative area carpeting was approved unanimously. The vendor is Universal Carpet. A lower bid did not include costs for all components of the project in the Request for Proposal.
The next Board meeting is at 9 a.m. Wednesday, September 26, in Drendel Ballroom, Prairie Lodge.
