Board Awards Creek Contract For Removal Of Concrete In Creek

Levee District No. 3 members opted to award a bid to Vern Bauman Contracting for removing debris in and around the North and South Gabouri Creeks.

Bauman’s bid was for $45,080, which includes the removal of 80 feet of concrete ramp, breaking up concrete for reuse and removal of rebar.

The bid also includes excavation of a slope bench, installation of 200 tons of shot rock and removal of debris from the channel to the storage area – plus the reinstallation of an 8-inch thick reinforced concrete ramp.

During the bid letting process, president Vern Bauman excused himself and allowed Tom Okenfuss to run the meeting.

Premier Dredging of Bloomsdale provided the district a bid of $30,902; however, the board decided that bid didn’t contain enough information – including an accurate cost for shot rock.

Steve’s Hauling and Excavating, LLC, out of Oak Ridge, also bid on the project. But, the quote was high at $69,780.

Board member Sue Schweiss made a motion to accept Bauman’s bid, with a second from Okenfuss. Bauman abstained from the vote.

The district said this is a perfect time to work on projects with the Mississippi River well below flood stage.

According to the National Weather Service on Saturday, the river depth at Chester, Illinois, was 17.31 feet – nearly 10 feet below flood stage. This is the closest reporting station to Ste. Genevieve.

The district decided future bids would be needed for ditch diversion and the culvert pipe extension.

Member Rob Eck also made a motion, with a second from Okenfuss, to purchase extra pipe for Division Street.

Some personnel matters also were tended to during the meeting, including the board appointment of Dr. Phil Loida.

Okenfuss recommended Loida, who’s the owner/operator of Family Dentistry of Ste. Genevieve, for a spot on the board.

“I’ve convinced him to take one of the seats,” Okenfuss said.

To accommodate Loida, Eck made a motion with a second from Schweiss to change the board meeting date to the first Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. in the Ste. Genevieve city hall boardroom. All were in favor of the switch.

Loida replaces Carl Wehner, who resigned at a district meeting earlier this year.

In addition, Okenfuss decided it was time to give maintenance man Norman Gallup a title. He will now be referred to as the levee superintendent.