Joplin council finalizes contract for 32nd St. widening project

JOPLIN, Mo. – The Joplin City Council finalized a contract for the 32nd street widening project and approved another one on first reading.

Earlier this month, council started the approval process for an $8.6 million contract to fund the widening project from Shifferdecker to Central City Road. Monday night they finalized that agreement with Emery Sapp and Sons, Inc.

They also approved on first reading a $520,000 contract for construction phase engineering services for the project.

“Some of those valley’s were raising up fifteen feet,” said Director of Public Works David Hertzberg. “So we’re doing some special monitoring in the materials testing make sure there is no settlement taken place over time.”

That $520,000 is part of the $8.6 million. Since this was only the first reading for the new contract, it will have to be approved again on second and third readings.

Joplin approves resource management studies of police and fire departments

JOPLIN, Mo. – Joplin City Council Monday approved contracts for studies to look at the best use of resources of the police and fire departments.

For the police department, council approved a contract with Etico Solutions for $39,000. That company’s study of the department is expected to be completed in November.

For the fire department, council approved a $37,500 dollar contract with a firm called Canfield Jenkins and Associates. Officials expect that study to be done after June.

“This is part of an action plan which is part of a larger vision to improve service to the community,” said Joplin City Manager Nick Edwards. “That’s primarily why we are here to provide that service certainly our public safety service, our critical services that we need to mindful of.”

The council also looked at a design for a new logo. The design shown today was tabled with a new design expected to be shown at a later meeting.