By JEFF LAMPE
For The Weekly Post
FARMINGTON – The Farmington City Council on Monday voted unanimously to accept a bid from UCM, Inc., for upcoming resurfacing of Apple Street, First Avenue and Second Avenue.
UCM of Tremont offered the lowest of two bids submitted for the resurfacing project, which is funded by Motor Fuel Taxes. The UCM bid of $483,361.45 was under an engineer’s estimate of $530,619 and well under the bid of $604,175.16 from Tazewell County Asphalt.
The council also voted unanimously to purchase an Owl Pro camera, laptop and necessary wires to allow for livestreaming of future council meetings at a cost of approximately $2,100. City Administrator Rollen Wright said Owl Pro cameras offer a 360-degree view of a meeting room and are outfitted with eight microphones. The camera rotates its focus based on who is speaking in the room, Wright said.
He has researched less expensive cameras, but said that they would have required an operator to shift the focus manually.
Once the camera is installed and running, Wright said the plan is to livestream council meetings via a City of Farmington YouTube page. Meetings will also be recorded on the laptop. Other meetings, such as the zoning board and council committees, could also be livestreamed.
In other business, the council:
• Heard that new water mains have been installed in the area of Cedar Street and South Mill Street and crews were to be headed to North Pleasant Street.
• Heard that representatives from the Recreation Commission will report at the July 7 council meeting.
• Received information packets from resident Aaron Kevilus that he said included financial statements for Mayor Kent Kowal.
