Published: September 10, 2008 09:48 am      

Council amends purchase, travel policies

CLINTON — The Clinton City Council has approved changes to the city purchasing policy as recommended by the Committee of the Whole on Aug. 26 and the Internal Operations Committee on Aug. 19.

The council approved changes to the city’s purchasing policy to increase the value of non-bid purchases from $40,000 to $100,000. Under the change which reflects current standards in state law, city purchases valued between $40,000 and $100,000, would have no formal public hearing requirement or approval process of specifications and authorization of bidding prior to receiving sealed quotations. The policy would not include new street reconstruction projects, but would apply to street maintenance projects.

Other changes include increasing the pre-purchase approval amount for division or department directors from $200 to $500 without any bidding or quotation process; changing the range for informal quotations to be held on file by department directors from $200 through $1,000 to $500 through $2,000; and changing the range for finance director administered purchases requiring quotations and purchase requisitions from $1,000 through $10,000 to $2,000 through $10,000.

The meeting began with audience comment. Kelly Jergensen asked the council for permission for the band boosters to paint house numbers on curbs as a fundraiser to garner money for the Clinton High School band to perform in the Pan Pacific Parade in Hawaii in June. Mayor Rodger Holm stated the item would be placed on the next council agenda for approval.

Public Works Director Gary Schellhorn made a public statement regarding the city’s current Brownfields projects. Schellhorn said the city was awarded three grants in the amount of $200,000 each from the Environmental Protection Agency and a public meeting must be held to garner input on the projects. He said the meeting will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. in City Hall council chambers to discuss an assessment grant for possible contamination issues in the Liberty Square area and ongoing cleanups at the Benson Oil and Jetter Transfer properties.

Dick Kissack, spokesperson for the Clinton Library Board of Trustees, addressed the council. Kissack said members of the Library Board and the Friends of the Library have toured various modern libraries across the nation. After describing features of the Fairmont branch library in western Davenport, he encouraged the council to tour some modern libraries in the area, saying building a library is a serious matter and should not be taken lightly.

Later, the council approved an amended resolution establishing just compensation of $150 to Dayton Hudson Corporation for acquisition of a temporary easement for the Manufacturing Drive Widening Project. The item was pulled from the Consent Agenda and amended to be subject to final administrative review after City Administrator Gary Boden noted the agreement has been negotiated, but final paperwork for the agreement had not been received as of the council meeting. The council approved a motion to amend the resolution and then approved it.