Vernal council approves SCADA contract and airport terminal design task order

Decisions at a glance

Agenda, item by item

1. Item 7 · Contract

   Dorsett Controls contract for SCADA upgrades

   Approved · 4-0

   The council approved a $158,316.35 contract with Dorsett Controls for upgrades to the city's water-system SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) system. After the vote, Councilmember Randel Mills asked the water superintendent for more information on ongoing monthly service and hosting costs.

   • Contract$158,316.35 to Dorsett Controls Upgrades to the city's water-system SCADA system. Staff recommended waiving competitive bidding. Paid from $170,000 allocated in the current budget
   • The water superintendent said $170,000 had been allocated for the project in the current budget and recommended waiving competitive bidding to use the same provider as Ashley Valley Water and Sewer Improvement District.
   • Staff described a software overhaul, replacement of hardware at existing monitoring sites and a vendor-hosted server. Cellular monitoring sites would carry a recurring fee of $15 per site, with additional server-hosting costs.

   Ed Long moved to approve the contract with Dorsett Controls for SCADA system upgrades in the amount of $158,316.35; Robin O'Driscoll seconded.. Vote: Mills, O'Driscoll, Long and Porter voted aye; Munford was absent. Carried unanimously by roll call.

2. Item 8 · Contract

   Task Order 1 for airport terminal design

   Approved · 4-0

   The council approved Task Order No. 1, $501,562, for the architectural design of an expansion of the Vernal Regional Airport terminal. The airport director said approval would not commit the city to construction costs, which would be presented separately after design is complete.

   • Contract$501,562 Task Order No. 1: design of the Vernal Regional Airport terminal expansion; does not authorize construction. Paid from Federal airport grant at 95% reimbursement; local share approximately $25,000
   • The airport director said the task order qualifies for 95% federal funding, leaving a local share of approximately $25,000, and that Uintah County approved the task order the previous day.
   • The director estimated construction at about $4 million, with a 90% federal contribution anticipated and the local share to be addressed in future budget discussions.

   Randel Mills moved to approve Task Order No. 1 for the Airport Terminal Design in the amount of $501,562, as presented; Nick Porter seconded.. Vote: Mills, O'Driscoll, Long and Porter voted aye; Munford was absent. Carried unanimously by roll call.

3. Item 9 · Parks

   Clock and bell tower concept for the Community Plaza

   Approved

   The council approved the conceptual design presented by MHTN Architects for a clock and bell tower in the Community Plaza and authorized staff to continue the planning process. The city manager said an anonymous donor intends to fund the tower; no donation agreement was approved.

   • The donor's estimate was approximately $200,000 to $300,000, and the final cost could be higher. The donation could be facilitated through Charitable Friends of Ashley Valley under an agreement setting out donor and city responsibilities.
   • The donor hopes to complete construction in summer 2027.

   Nick Porter moved to approve the conceptual design presented by MHTN Architects for the clock and bell tower in the Community Plaza and authorize the continuation of the planning process; Randel Mills seconded. The motion passed unanimously with all in favor (no numeric tally recorded).

4. Item 10 · Other

   Lamplighter Hotel salvage and disposition

   No action

   The council expressed general support for a public silent auction of salvageable items from the Lamplighter Hotel before demolition. The minutes say no formal action was taken, and no auction date was set.

   • The city manager said the previous owners would have a 30-day salvage period under the purchase agreement, with asbestos abatement expected to begin in January and demolition tentatively in March or April.