Hawkins City Council
Water Tower paint contract let; Garner approved as VFD Chief
By JOHN SPARKS

 

Meeting in regular session, Monday, January 21, the Hawkins City Council approved the signing of a contract with Champion Coating to re-paint the water tower and ratified the election of Van Garner as the new Chief of the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department.

Two bids were received for the re-painting project for the city’s water tower. The winning low bid of $135,000 was submitted by Champion Coating of Minnesota. The basic bid specifications call for sandblasting the interior and exterior of the tower, minor repairing and/or replacing steel parts, interior coating application and a base white paint on the exterior. The specifications also call for deep blue lettering— “HAWKINS HAWKS”—six feet in height on two sides. The council is also asking for an estimate on the cost of adding a hawk in blue to two sides the tower. Tri-State, another Minnesota firm also bid on the project.
 

Work on the water tower is expected to begin in early Spring with completion in 90-days.
 

The council also ratified the officers of the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department as elected earlier by firefighters. Van Garner is the new chief and Cody Thompson is assistant chief.
 

In other action, the council approved the purchase of a new copier at a cost of $4,000 plus a charge of 1.7 cents per copy after the first 1,000 each month.
 

Charles Stevenson and his wife appeared before the council seeking approval to site a manufactured home on Baxter Road. Stevenson told council the home is a 1987 model. Stevenson was advised of the steps that need to be taken before final approval can be granted.
 

Neal Duncan was nominated as a member of the board of directors of the Wood County Industrial Commission representing the City of Hawkins. The seat became available as Ed Baker has taken an at large position and will represent the county along with WCIC Executive Director, Gary McKinley in regional economic development matters.
 

Mayor Sam Bradley reported petitions with 151 signatures were submitted to the Wood County Commissioners Court as a first step in establishing “Wood County Emergency Service District #2” for the area served by the Hawkins Volunteer Fire Department.
 

The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Hawkins City Council is scheduled for Monday, February 18 at 6 p.m. A special meeting of the council can be called with 72 hours public notice.