Hampton Council presents first Image of Pride for 2021

The Hampton City Council presented Jeff and Tracy Spear with the city's Image of Pride Award during their regular meeting on Thursday, May 13.

In a bit of a change from previous years, this year the city will be focusing the Image of Pride Award to property owners that have spruced up homes that have otherwise not been well kept.

"We've been focusing on folks that have really nice properties and have kept them up well," said council member Dick Lukensmeyer. "They have taken four properties that have been total… bad pieces."

The Spears were recognized for their work in tearing down old properties and rebuilding them into new rentals in the community.

"What you're doing for the community and setting an example for other is tremendous," said Lukensmeyer.

In other business, the council agreed to renew the city's health insurance policy for the 2021-22 fiscal year. The motion passed with a 5-1 vote, with Berry Lamos voting against as he felt the plan was overly generous.

Mark Crawford of Crawford Engineering was present at the meeting to present bids for the 2021-22 PCC Reconstruction Project and the 2021-22 HMA Street Rehabilitation Program.

For the PCC Reconstruction Project, Crawford recommended the city go with the low bid of $313,343.30 from OEL Construction Services, Inc. The council approved the bid and Crawford will present contracts and other necessary paperwork for a future meeting.

For the HMA Street Rehabilitation Program, Crawford received one bid for the project from Heartland Asphalt and recommended going with that bid in the amount of $307,188.85.

The council also approved an architectural service agreement for SVPA Architecture to make plans for city hall improvements with an estimated fee of $24,000.

Moving into public comment, the council again spoke with Lu Rodemeyer, who continued to speak about the placement of stop signs in southeast Hampton. Rodemeyer has requested that the city install stop signs along 1st Ave SE at the intersections between 5th St. and 8th St.

Council member Pat Palmer commented that he would like to see the council make a decision about what to do about the traffic situation in that neighborhood one way or another in an upcoming meeting to have the matter settled.