At its July 26 meeting, the Willits City Council brought forth a resolution awarding a contract to BAS Roofing Inc. in the amount of $334,370, adopting it unanimously.
The contract was awarded for repairs on the roofs at City Hall and the Art Center. As with all projects, open bidding is required with this project being advertised on April 26. No bids were received after several weeks of the listing being posted, resulting in staff contacting BAS Roofing asking to quote the entire project after only bidding on a portion of it.
The work includes full removal and replacement of all roofing materials except the sheathing. The repairs are required for solar panel installation and will include replacing all existing skylights.
Sidewalk project approved
The city of Willits, at the recommendation of California Intergovernmental Risk Authority (CIRA), enlisted Precision Concrete Cutting to analyze existing sidewalks identifying areas of concern regarding uneven sidewalks in order to maintain and meet requirements set by the American With Disabilities Act.
The project is estimated to take eight or nine working days repairing 357 individual locations of uneven sidewalk, 46 locations requiring additional attention and nine locations that need complete replacement.
The project is estimated to cost $35,088, with no competitive bidding required as it is below the $60,000 open bid requirement. The council voted to approve it unanimously.
Water and sewer rates increasing
In June, The city of WIllits sent out Prop. 218 notices informing residents of a public hearing to be held July 26, to present a five-year plan to raise water and sewer rates in conjunction with inflation at 7 percent. Only three letters of protest were received by the city, with the council adopting the resolution unanimously.
The new rates are set to go into effect on Aug. 1, with the base cost of a 5/8 size meter increasing $1.66 and 3/4 meters increasing $1.87.
The base rate for single family water usage will increase 35 cents for water consumption up to 600 cf and $1.27 for 601 cf or more.
Sewage rates are set to increase for single family homes from $888.40 EDU (Equivalent Dwelling Units) to $949.46 EDU with more than a $50 increase each year.
The five-year rate plan will increase water costs substantially over the next five years. The program staff must present to council a report on inflation in two years to determine if rate increases are still necessary.
If you would like to see the schedule of rate increases in detail they are available at https://cityofwillits.org/AgendaCenter/City-Council-1 for the July 26 meeting on pages 48-49.
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https://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/2023/07/28/willits-city-council-discusses-roofing-repairs-sidewalks-water-and-sewer-rates/
