As Miami Lakes commences to implement the first major project of its Beautification Master Plan, the Town Council opposed a contract it deemed too expensive to place an gateway feature near the south entrance of the town.
At the September 9 regular meeting, councilmembers were prepared to vote on a $132,000 contract with ABC Construction to build the entrance feature for N.W. 67 Avenue (also known as Ludlum Road).
But lawmakers said the amount for the work was too high compared to the previous gateway features erected at an estimated $75,000 each.
Councilmember Tony Lama recommended Town Manager Alex Rey to renegotiate a new contract at a reduced rate, and if not successful, Miami Lake s would manage the project in-house to allow the manager to execute agreements with subcontractors.
“I would like to see it under $100,000,” Lama said.
Councilmember Ceasar Mestre said: “How about $60,000 to $70,000?”
In other Town Council news:
• The Council gave their final approval for an ordinance to adopt the Lien Amnesty Program for code enforcement, which now helps residents with a lien on their properties to bring the violations up to code at reduced rates.
The measure includes an 85 percent reduction for resident-owned properties and a 75 percent reduction for all other properties. Owners must file a $70 application fee with the town first to be considered for the Amnesty Program.
• Councilmembers on first reading approved an ordinance to adopt two new fees for building, zoning fees, shop drawings and residential minimum permit fees to cover $188,956 in losses for next year based on the rising costs for expenses for the Building Department.
• Lawmakers approved a resolution to increase the special event application processing fee from $50 to $100, and to increase the special event application processing fee to $500 for applications submitted less than one week from the date of the event.
• Councilmembers approved a resolution, which was sponsored by Mayor Wayne Slaton, to proclaim October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Miami Lakes will explore activities and events, including Town Hall going pink and the participating in the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides of Miami-Dade scheduled on Saturday, October 11, to raise awareness for the second most common kind of cancer among women.
• Councilmembers passed a resolution to approve the town’s Committee of the Whole’s recommendation to honor the 150th anniversary of “In God We Trust.
• Councilmembers approved Vice Mayor Manny Cid’s resolution to request that Miami-Dade 911 dispatchers begin accepting text messages.
• Lawmakers approved Councilmember Nelson Rodriguez’s recommendation for Miami Lakes to provide financial support to Boy Scouts Troop 49 after the group’s trailer was burglarized and items and equipment valued at $5,000 were stolen.
Rodriguez suggested providing assistance in receiving donations at Town Hall and possibly assist in locating a secure location in the town for the troop’s trailer. The troop on many occasions has been the town’s Color Guard at the regular Town Council meetings.
• Councilmembers approved Cid’s recommendation for Slaton to arrange a meeting with representatives of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department Station 1, 16999 N.W. 67 Avenue, and see what can be done to prevent motorists from blocking the facility’s driveway that causes a delay in emergency response time.
Cid suggested possibly placing warning lights outside the station that flashes when an emergency call is placed, or paint the road stripes adjacent to the station.
• In July, the Town Council adopted a resolution that authorized the town manager to award contracts with a value not to exceed $100,000 during the August Town Council recess. Based on the authority granted to the town manager two awards were made.
The first contract was awarded to Progressive Waste Solutions of FL, Inc. in the amount of $33,936 annually, which generated a savings of $4,752 per year when compared to the previous contract.
The second contract was awarded to Skyline Construction and Restoration Corp. in the amount of $86,735, which includes $78,850 for the work and a 10 percent contingency of $7,885, for selective demolition work for the Youth Center at Miami Lakes Picnic Park East.