Melrose Council Tables Website Contract, Loses Potential $3,000 Discount

MELROSE — February 16, 2023 — Melrose City Council tables a $12,700 website contract and fields a $15,000 park donation at its February meeting. The council voted to delay a decision on hiring Apogee as a combined website, mobile app, and notification platform vendor — a choice that forfeits a $3,000 discount available through February 28 — after council members said they wanted more information on ADA compliance requirements and comparable options; the city's current website has not been updated since 2011. Jason Bernick of the Bernick's Family Foundation presented a $15,000 check for Sauk River Park, calling the gift part of the company's long community-giving history dating to 1916. The council also noted receipt of a $30,000 escrow payment from Granite City Real Estate LLC tied to a proposed 72-unit apartment development on the Railroad West site, with a TIF district public hearing set for March. City Administrator's 2022 year-in-review highlighted a 99.99 percent electric reliability rate, a $44,693 wastewater polymer savings, and a near-complete wastewater plant upgrade, with the first bypass to the new clarifier scheduled for February 27.