FAIRMONT– The Fairmont City Council met on Monday night and disapproved a letter of intent regarding the Day Farm property, approved an agreement with Dude Solutions for Asset Management Software, and approved two bids for two different projects.

A Letter of Intent was received from Carlson Walters Group, LLC regarding the purchase of 55 acres of the Day Far for $1. The 55 acres would be used to develop a campground.

The Letter of Intent requested and would have required the sale of the property, the city to extend Fairlakes avenue from the north to the edge of the 55-acre parcel with at least a gravel surface, would require the city to extend water, sewer, and electricity to the North edge of the parcel, would require the city to grant an option to purchase an additional 15 acres west of Fairlakes Ave for $1 over the next 10 years following completion of the campground and the city would not be able to solicit, initiate, knowingly encourage or enter into any discussions or negotiations or agreements with any other person or entity involving a transaction similar to the one described in the letter.

According to Economic Development Coordinator Linsey Preuss, there were several different factors as to why this letter of intent was recommended to be disapproved. The factors included a financial feasibility analysis, a site-plan analysis, a full business plan, and a marketing analysis.

“This is the same type of analysis that would need to be complete by any bank or FEDA (Fairmont Economic Development Authority) when considering any application under the revolving loan fund,” Preuss said.

The council also approved an agreement with Dude Solutions for an asset management software and training. The city maintains numerous vehicles, facilities, streets, utilities, and park land. Over the past several years much of this information has been uploaded to the City’s Geographic Information System (GIS). The next step would be to utilize the information to manage workflow, inspections, cleaning cycles, maintenance of equipment, and maintenance of vehicles. Before the approval of this software, it was done in different ways. This software would make it to where this information would be the same to all employees.

The proposal included the software purchase, installation, set-up and training. The cost for this work is estimated at almost $24,000 with an annual maintenance cost of $16,360.25.

“I’ll just say thank you on the Dude Solutions, because I’ve had several people on me for some time to get this process through,” Director of Public Works and City Engineer Troy Nemmers said. “I think it’s going to take a lot of work and something we need to do as a city.

One of the two bids awarded was to Beemer Companies for $1,032,337 to the Habitat Restoration and Nitrate Bioreactor project. The estimate was around $1.21 million. The other bid was awarded to Winona Mechanical for the wastewater scum removal project. The bid was awarded for the amount of $141,000 and was originally budgeted for $125,000.

The next Fairmont City Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 26 at 5:30 p.m.