Hurley City Council approves budget amendment for city hall renovations

By RALPH ANSAMI

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Hurley — The Hurley City Council on Wednesday approved budget amendments to cover the cost of renovations to the city hall building.

The council amended 2016 budget categories to reflect the $15,322 cost of renovating the building.

Mayor Joe Pinardi said that will be the total cost of the project and the money will go to three companies that have been working on the building.

A key reason for the renovation is to provide more space for the police department. The former mayor’s office area has been joined with the police department.

Chief of Police Chris Colassaco said while that area of the building is now “quite a mess,” he appreciates that all city employees have been working together for the betterment of the city.

It will be a couple more weeks before the project is completed.

There will be a statewide single-issue election next Tuesday and the main meeting room in city hall usually used for elections won’t be available because it’s under construction, Colassaco said, so the library will likely be used.

The city’s police officers have been trained in the use of tasers and they are now carrying them, the council learned.

The city council approved a resolution to borrow $43,000 from the Hurley Associated Bank to buy a truck for the street department and radios for the police department.

Council members also approved a pre-qualification questionnaire for contractors who will bid on the 2017 city utility project that will include Copper Street improvements, water tank renovations and sewer interceptor upgrades.

Street superintendent Mark Bluse reported Wednesday that there has been only one broken water line in the city to repair this winter.

On a suggestion by Pinardi, the council agreed to send letters to property owners who aren’t keeping their sidewalks clear of snow and ice. If they don’t respond with action, special assessments will be added to their taxes.

The meeting was moved to Wednesday because of a lack of a quorum on Tuesday.