City Hall and Police Station in Schulenburg to Reopen Feb. 1

Schulenburg City Council voted on Monday to reopen City Hall and the Police Station to the public beginning on Feb. 1. Both facilities and the library have been closed to the public since last May in an effort to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Since that time, City staff set up a station outside City Hall where citizens can drop off payments and pick up forms. The staff has also conducted business over the telephone.

Schulenburg Public Library will continue limited operations. City Administrator Tami Walker said the library staff wanted to wait to reopen fully until they receive a coronavirus vaccine.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, the Council accepted a proposal from Haworth Roofing to make repairs at the Schulenburg Expo Center.

Walker told the Council that several problems with the roof were recently discovered during preparations for the Schulenburg Junior Livestock Show, which takes place Jan. 22-23.

City Operations Manager Darryl Moeller said he recently inspected the roof with Haworth Roofing owner John Haworth.

“We crawled up on the roof and looked at it,” Moeller said. “The screws that are on the roof, they are an old type of screw, and they’re rusting out and failing. The ridge cap is supposed to have a breathable material in there to keep the rain out, well that’s gone and now we’re getting moisture inside the building.”

Moeller said Hawroth proposed replacing all the screws and the ridge cap, along with some new caulking and work to some of the walls of the metal building.

“It needs some attention,” Moeller said. “If we don’t start on it now, its going to mess up. (Haworth) said we could probably get another 15 to 20 more years out of the tin if we replace the screws and everything now.”

Haworth submitted an estimate of $11,450. By law, the City does not have to go out for bids for projects that cost less than $50,000. The City did not seek estimates from any other company.

Walker said she did not know whether the work could be completed before the Schulenburg Junior Livestock Show.

“It’s probably going to cost us more money later if we don’t (do this),” said Councilman Ben Herzik.

Councilman Chip Bubela made the motion to hire Haworth. Herzik seconded and it passed unanimously.

Later in the meeting, Schulenburg Police Chief Troy Brenek reported that Haworth would also perform some repairs to the Police Station roof.

In an interview after Monday’s meeting, Walker said the gutters on the police station are undersized and have caused some facia boards to rot away. The damage is allowing water to enter the building, she said.

Walker said the City asked Haworth to submit a proposal. Haworth estimated a cost of $19,450 for the police station repairs, she said. City policy allows Walker to spend up to $20,000 on single projects without going to Council for approval. Walker said she ordered the repairs from Haworth because the building is regularly occupied.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Walker reported that she received some complaints about the small size of the artwork recently completed on the east side of the water tower along Interstate 10. The artwork includes Schulenburg’s motto, “Halfway to Everywhere,” but the motto is written quite small and is hard to see from the Interstate or Highway 77. Councilwoman Wendy Fietsam also took issue with the artwork.

“I’m kind of sad that we’re going to have that small logo for the next 25 years on our water tower,” Fietsam said at the meeting.