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FAIRMONT -- With the work for the $1.95 million Public Owned Housing Program (POHP) grant upcoming for the Housing and Redevelopment Association (HRA) at Friendship Village, a piece of the work fell into place at their Thursday board meeting.
In either Fall 2026 or Spring 2027, the HRA is looking to do removal of five standing trees and 27 tree stumps to clear the way for POHP grant work, which will include plumbing, sewer lines, widening of sidewalks and patio replacements.
After going out for bid, Snyder Tree Service submitted the only bid, which also included site cleanup and protection of existing utilities, structures and irrigation.
Executive Director Gail Diede said they had sent the request out to three companies, and Snyder Tree Service was the only one to respond.
"We do have the right to not accept if you want to go back out for a bid," she said. "This is in preparation of getting the top right for the sidewalks. They'd have it done before the concrete work started."
Board Member Diana Bradley asked why they only received one bid. Diede said they are all slammed with work, and one she did talk to had committed to submitting a bid but ultimately did not do so. Bradley then asked what their time frame would be if it is approved now.
"When I went out for it, I asked him either fall of 26 or spring of 27," Diede said. "Because we’re going out so late, I didn’t know if they would have time this fall. For right away springtime, they can get it done and, to tell you the truth, I’d rather in spring because there's a couple of places they are going to have to dig in to get to the mains, so everything will be upset all at one time."
"In the spring weather gets better, not worse," Board Member Wayne Herrman added.
Board Chair Clare Mosloski made the motion to approve the bid for Snyder Tree Service with the discussed changes and clarifications. The motion was approved unanimously.
Also for Friendship Village, the board approved a new contract with Text.Gov for a new alerts system. Diede said it helps with providing notice to tenants when needed.
"When things change, we've got to do at least 24-hour notice, 48-hour notice if you're going to be in their building. We were thinking this is perfect for that, because if something happens or the water has to be shut off, they can set it up by building, and they can set up another one where it is everybody. Then you can send the text out, 'It's anticipated five inches tomorrow; remember you need to be off the parking lot.'"
Bradley asked what they were doing now. Diede said their current system is that people go around and attach sticky notes to every door with notices, and then people don't notice them, or they open their door and it flies off.
"That's what we call old school," Mosloski said.
By bringing in this new system, Diede said it would improve efficiency over the old system. Herrman made the motion to accept the contract with Text.Gov, and it was approved unanimously.
In other news:
-- Changes to monthly flat rent for Friendship Village were approved. New flat rent for a one-bedroom is $676, up from $642, and for a two-bedroom it is up to $812 from $778.
-- A contract with Hawkins/Ash to provide financial statements for the HRA was approved.