During the recent Becker City Council meeting, representatives of Wold Architects presented construction plans for the City Hall update project.

The Wold representatives went over the specifications of the project, which will provide more space for both the city hall staff and the police department to operate.

Council approved the plans and moved to advertise for bids for the project, with an estimated project budget of just under $7.5 million. There were also a couple of alternate projects the city would like to add, provided they can do so within the budget, including expanding the police squad garage and re-roofing the existing parts of the building.

Squad Car Replacement

Typically, the police department purchases a new squad car every year. They skipped doing so last year, but are hoping to purchase a vehicle this year again for just under $46,000. About $50,000 was budgeted for this purchase in the police capital improvement account.

In Other Business, the Council:

• Heard the annual library update;

• Heard committee reports;

• Approved replacing a lift station pump in the city sewer system;

• Authorized a topographic survey of a 212 acre property owned by the city, with the interest of eventually developing the area;

• Called for a public hearing on April 2 to make updates to the city fee schedule.