City accepts $1.2 million bid for improvements

HARTINGTON — The Hartington City Council Monday accepted a bid of $1.2 million to complete the Downtown Revitalization Project.
The project calls for paving Broadway from Franklin north to Main street and for new storm sewers, a 12-inch water main, new sidewalk, and new street lights. All the intersections on the streets and sidewalks that will be worked on during the revitalization will also be made handicap accessible.

The city received a Community Development Block grant to pay for some of the work.
Hartington was  awarded a Community Development Block Grant of $350,000 for the revitalization plan. Sales tax receipts and a city bond will be used to pay for the rest of the project.
The Council accepted the low bid of $1,249,507 from A&R Construction, Plainview.  The company plans to begin the work next spring and have it all completed by Sept. 15.
In all, four bidders took part in the June 29 bid-letting.
Prior to accepting the bid, the Council held a hearing to gather community input about creating a Street Improvement District. There were no objections to the creation of the District.
In other action Monday, the Council also learned about a skunk problem in Hartington. Council members were told that two skunks were recently killed in the city limits. Councilman Gary Kruse said skunks have been seen near the trailer court and in the area near the medical clinic.
Game warden Jeff Jones has been trying to help the city. Jones told Mayor Brad Peitz that USDA Wildlife Services could help eradicate the skunks at a cost of  $1,500 to the city.
The Council also approved building permits for a cart storage shed at the Hartington Golf Course and for a storage shed at the Jeff Brummels home.