BELLE — Aldermen voted 3-0 on April 9 to award a $35,500 quote to Meyer Asphalt, LLC., in Rolla, to pave the Belle City Park entrance — a project under the guidance of the Belle Community Betterment Association (BCBA).

Mayor James (Pudd) Mitchell added the item to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.

“This was submitted by Meyer Asphalt and Pierce Asphalt,” Mitchell said as he introduced the bids during new business. “These are basically quotes, or estimates, or whatever you want to call them.”

Meyer Asphalt broke the quote down to visits. Phase one to spray SS-1 tack coat on the existing asphalt, and lay two inches of hot mix asphalt on the area and four inches around the new concrete entrance walls, and roll and compact the asphalt for a 12,000 square foot area was quoted at $19,500.

Paving was outlined as phase three: to spray SS-1 tack coat on to the existing asphalt, nine feet wide and six to eight inches away from the fence, for roughly 470 feet down the fence line as well as rolling and compacting roughly 4,250 square feet. The quote came in at $8,500.

Meyer Asphalt’s total bid was $35,500.

Pierce Asphalt, LLC., in Rolla, submitted a bid for $43,470, and included the base bid: mill joints and overlay from where cones are currently to 146 feet south and intersection to the east as shown on the map with two inches of BP-1 asphalt with tack applied on existing asphalt for $27,230. Patch areas as shown on the map with cross-hatching around concrete structures and broken up asphalt for an estimated $4,065.

Pierce added a number one alternative option to mill along Highway M and overlay with two inches of asphalt for $4,650. Alternative two included milling along the road for 566 feet and paving an 8.5 width for a paved bike path for approximately $7,525. Excavation and rock for the bike path would be completed by others.

Mitchell explained that phase one included laying tack down and spraying two inches of hot mix and four inches around the concrete pillars and entrance walls.

Rebecca Withouse asked Mitchell to clarify what the asphalt was for.

“Question: because you are saying asphalt bids but you’re not saying what the asphalt is for,” Withouse said.

“It’s for the park entrance,” Mitchell said.

“Were these bids submitted to the city of Belle?” Withouse asked. “Or the BCBA?”

Mitchell said they were billed to Wade Guffey (BCBA member).

“You advertised and solicited these bids?” she asked.

Alderman Steve Vogt said they weren’t bids, they were quotes.

“Meyer is going to do all three phases for less than what was budgeted,” Vogt said. “We wasn’t sure we’d be able to do all three or not.”

Alderman Jeanette Struemph said both businesses do quality work. Vogt asked for a reminder of how they planned to pay for the project, if it was being split between budget years.

“No,” fellow board members said.

Alderman Barb Howarth, who stepped down on April 22 when Alderman Withouse was sworn in, said they planned to take it out of two different budget accounts. Mitchell expanded.

“It was $20,000 out of special road district and $20,000 out of capital improvements.

“We can’t do it out of two fiscal budgets because of the time constraints,” Struemph added, referring to the early fair and BCBA Swap Meet, both held in June.

Vogt made a motion to accept the quote from Meyers Asphalt.    

In other business, Mitchell also added that the bridge located in the 600 block of South Alvarado Avenue will be out of service until repairs can be made.

“After the enormous amount of rain on (April 4), we had anywhere from eight to 10 inches of rain, down on South Alvarado, we have a bridge there, and we went and looked at it. It’s undermined under the road, probably two to four foot,” he said. “Underneath the bridge itself, on each side, it’s undermined probably 12 to 14 inches all through. On the top side, where it washed out, four foot deep and probably five foot long —.”

Darin Guinn, public works, said it was more like seven feet long.

“After looking at it, we decided it was in the best interest of the city to shut the street down because we didn’t want to take a chance of collapsing on somebody, somebody getting hurt or worse,” Mitchell said. “Also, while we were looking at it, it has exposed a city water main and a city sewer (line) underneath it. We’ve got to figure somethin’ out on it.”

Mitchell said he’s called St. Louis County, the company that sells box culverts and culvert pipes, to install on near the bridge. The city has previously used the company to repair an undermined section of Belle Avenue.

“That rain, nothing moved, it all stayed right where it was,” Mitchell said, referring to the culvert pipe on Belle Avenue. “With that one being (on South Avarado Avenue) we talked it over and decided a box culvert may be the best avenue. A box culvert is four foot wide, seven foot tall and they come in eight-foot sections. We’re waiting to get a price back from ‘em on it.”

Mitchell said the owner of the adjoining property, Paul Jordan, offered to donate a corner of his property at the creek to straighten out the creek where it curves into the bridge, and prevent further erosion.

“If we can get the curves out of it, it’ll help with the flow of it,” Mitchell said. “The trees’ll have to be removed and all of that. He said he’d be willing to help with that.”

Mitchell added that the former automotive shop, where the tires were stacked up at the corner of South Alvarado Avenue and Highway 28, was purchased by Jimmy Zumwalt. The property adjoins  Jordan’s on the other side of the culvert.

“Jimmy said his crew would do everything they could to help us out, too,” Mitchell said. “They had planned on taking the trees out from behind the building on his property. That’s a pretty good step for us there.”

Mitchell said he had no idea how much it would cost the city because St. Louis hadn’t returned his call yet with an estimate.

“We could probably do it ourself, but it would be months down the road and it would have to be closed who knows how long?” Mitchell said. “If we contracted it out, it would probably be several thousand dollars.”

The next board meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. on May 13 at the Lonnie Feeler Memorial Building.