Repair of Oak Street was at the top of last week’s agenda as Mike Tibbetts of Hayter Engineering addressed Fairfield Council during the July 23, 2019 meeting at the Green Barn Civic Center.

Council members had already approved going out for final bids on the project at the end of June, expecting a price tag of around $100,000, based on cost estimates from the building contractor that had initially been approached.

However, Tibbetts relayed that once their engineering firm laid out the bid schedule according to the design approved by the City, estimates for the cost of the project rose to nearly $212,000.

“This was a huge discrepancy,” said Tibbetts.

His question to Council members: Did they want to proceed with the project, or hold off?

Oak Street between Main and Commerce has been a problem street in Fairfield for several years, supposedly due to faulty construction by a previous contractor.

The current design approved by Fairfield Council members includes at more expensive base rock that Hayter Engineering believes will solve the ongoing problems with the well-traveled road.

Although Tibbetts offered a few cost-saving options, such as reducing asphalt thickness or eliminating driveways, Council members were in agreement to keep to the design specifications, in spite of the cost.

“The public has waited so long for this street,” said Mayor Kenneth Hughes. “We want it to last as long as possible.”

A vote was not required, as the June 25th decision to go out for bid on the Oak Street project was still in force.

Following the July 19th decision to enter negotiations to purchase the Navarro complex, Fairfield Council approved taking the first steps in securing a firm to design and building a new City Hall.

According to City Administrator Nate Smith, the schedule should proceed as follows:

–Week of July 29 & August 5 – Request For Qualifications (RFQ) published in the newspaper.

–September 10 – City of Fairfield to open RFQ’s.


–September 24 – Fairfield Council selects finalist(s) for Design/Build team.

–October 18 – Request For Proposal (RFP) submitted by finalists (outlining what it will cost, what it will look like).

–October 22 – City of Fairfield to open RFP’s.

–November 12 – Fairfield Council selects Design/Build team and begins negotiations on final agreement to complete contract.

The entire project is expected to take approximately 280 days, which would put city staff into a new City Hall sometime next Spring.

Next, Council members approved a resolution authorizing publication of Notice Of Intention to Issue Certificates of Obligation. This is the first step in securing the funds to pay for the design and build of the City Hall project.

After much discussion, and a phone call to the City’s financial advisor, RBC Capital Markets, Council members agreed to their intention “not to exceed” $2.65 Million when issuing their Certificate of Obligation.

According to City Administrator Smith, this amount would allow the City of Fairfield to purchase the Navarro Complex, complete the design and build of a new City Hall, complete the repair of Oak Street, and refurbishing the Water Tower on Love Street.

Each of these projects was listed as priorities for the next fiscal year during a City Council workshop held in June.

Smith stressed that, because the City had substantially reduced their debt service during the current fiscal year, issuing these new Certificates of Obligation would not increase the property tax debt rate above the current amounts.

“Property tax has two components: Maintenance & Operation and Debt Rate,” explained the City Administrator. “Combine those two together, and you get your overall tax rate.”

Costs for Maintenance & Operation are determined by City Council during the budget process.

The Debt Rate is determined by the amount of debt the City has outstanding.

According to City Administrator Smith, even with the issuance of $2.65 Million in Certificates of Obligation, the City of Fairfield will see only $389,000 in debt for the next fiscal year; a significant decrease over last year’s debt of $455,000.

Budget workshops will be ongoing during the month of August, with proposed tax rates posted in September.

Also approved during last week’s meeting:

–Authorizing a Project Agreement to request a work crew from TDCJ Boyd Unit to assist the City with mowing and upkeep duties.

–Authorizing to publish a Request for Proposals for a firm to assist with granting writing and consulting services, as needed.