by Richard Uhlhorn
CITY COUNCIL HOLDS LAST BUDGET WORKSHOP
City Budget:
Chelan City Council and Chelan staff held a final budget workshop on Tuesday, December 3.
The meeting was a quick review of the budgeting process that has been taking place since October 1 through November 12. The budget is balanced and ready for adoption at the council’s December 10 council meeting.
The council had no questions regarding the Lake Chelan Airport 2024 year end Budget Amendments.
Mayor McCardle called for any final questions regarding the budgets. “My expectations are that all discussions and questions have been asked,” she said.
Facility Conditions and Needs Assessment:
Public Works Director Jake Youngren told council that the City put out a request for qualifications for the city’s facility conditions and needs assessment.
MMEC Architecture and Interiors responded to the request with a $219,000 proposal. This work consists of four phases designed to evaluate, plan and propose improvements for the city’s facilities including City Hall; Kelly Allen Insurance Bldg; Chelan Library; Lake Chelan Golf Course Club House and Maintenance Bldg. the Park Department’s Maintenance and Administrative Bldg’s; and the Public Works Administration Bldg.
Recylcling Center update:
MMEC also responded to a request from Public Works for a proposal to provide architectural/engineering services on a Recyle Center replacement after the original center burned down last July.
MMEC bid $256,400 to do the work beginning this month with construction beginning in late spring of 2025. Jake Youngren, public works director, commented that the price proposed reflects the construction world “we live in. Billing rates are high.”
Youngren said that a third party reviewed the proposal, made a few adjustments and then approved it. Insurance is paying for the new center and also hired a third party consultant to review MMEC’s proposal and also approved it. “Every day we wait, it gets more expensive,” said Youngren.
The new center will cover the same square footage, but Youngren isn’t sure where it will be situated.
Until the new center is build, all recycled materials are being dumped at the regional landfill. “We tried to find alternatives, but they were all too expensive,” stated Youngren.
All Things Lake Chelan 