07/17/1979 Board of Public Works Minutes

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125 REGULAR MEETING JULY 17. 1979 2. If the vacation will leave the real estate of the remonstrators without ingress or egress by means of a public way or street. 3. If the vacation will cut off the public's access to a church, school.or public building or grounds. Mr. McMahon said the Board of Public Works makes a determination on vacation petitions based on what is in the best interests of the City. Mr. Mullen asked Mr. Lehr the purpose of the vacation and Mr. Lehr said the petitioners want to consolidate lots they own and pave them for parking and the alley vacation will provide clear access to all this property. Mr. McMahon asked Donald Hartke if the semis use the east /west alley for deliveries and Mr. Hartke said they do. He said he would have to carry the items delivered some distance to his store if the alley is vacated. He said it is not feasible for the semis to turn off Colfax or LaSalle into the alley. Mr. McMahon said he felt the unloading of the semi - trucks is the major problem. He said he felt if the alley was vacated, the trucks would not unload in the back but would be unloading on St. Peter Street. From a traffic standpoint, the problem would be the danger of semis blocking St. Peter Street to the public. He said he would recommend that the Board deny the vacation but noted there would be no objection to the paving of the alley and making improvements so that it would be contiguous to the properties adjacent to it, so long as access to the alley was not 'denied. Mr. McMahon made a motion to rescind Vacation Resolution No. 3472 and deny the petition, with the understanding that the Board would be agreeable to any proposals to pave and improve the alley, leaving it accessible to the public. Mr. Mullen seconded the.motion and it carried. SALE OF PLAZA PARK APPROVED SUBJECT TO COUNCIL APPROVAL The Board received a report from James A. Seitz, Superintendent of Parks, advising that Van Gates has increased his offer for the sale of Plaza Park to $175,000.00. By unanimous decision, the Board of Park Commissioners is recommending that the Board of Public Works approve the sale of Plaza Park to Mr. Gates for $175,000. Mr. McMahon noted that the sale of the property at less than the appraised value of $245,750 must be approved by the Common Council. He acknowledged receipt of a letter to the Board of Public Works from Van E. Gates increasing his offer for Plaza Park to $175,000. The correspondence from the Park Board and from Mr, Gates was filed. Rick Gilhoff, 1036 W. Jefferson, spoke against the sale, in view of the President's recent energy speech and the role it is anticipated that public transportation will have in resolving the problem. He also noted that green space should be retained opposite Union Station, since train traffic may increase in the coming years. Upon motion made by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the Board approved the sale of Plaza Park to Van E. Gates for $175,000.00, subject to approval by the Common Council and directed that a resolution be prepared for Council action at the next meeting. APPROVAL OF CONTRACTS - FIRST BANK CENTER Contracts for the mass excavation and concrete foundations for the public portion of the First Bank Center were submitted to the Board. The Contracts are in accordance with the bids accepted by the Board on June 28. The Contract with Ritschard Brothers, Inc., is in the amount of $140,000 for Mass Excavation and the Performance Bond, Labor and Materials Payment Bond and Certificate of Insurance were attached. Upon motion made by Mr.McMahon, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the contract was approved and the bonds filed. The contract with Henry- Williams, Inc. for concrete foundations is in the amount of $436,244. The Performance Bond, -Labor and Materials Payment Bond and Certificate of Insurance were attached. Upon motion made by Mr. McMahon, seconded by Mr. Mullen and carried, the contract was approved and the bonds filed,