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Montrose mayor proposes hybrid roof for old gymnasium
By Diane Vance /Gate City Staff Writer
MONTROSE - The Montrose City Council is grappling with spending money on the old Montrose gym to make it a usable building. The roof needs to be replaced or repaired because it leaks even after it was patched in the summer of 2006.
“The past two proposals for the roof involved enough money that we need to decide what we want it to look like,” said Mayor Greg Ruth at the April 3 city council meeting.
One option is to use a spray foam roof, estimated to cost in the high $20,000s with a 15-year warranty, Ruth said. The foam also would add insulation to the roof.
A second option is to use a single-ply rubber roof with properties in the rubber that keep it from being affected by the sun's UV rays. Ruth said a rubber roof could be attached using ballast or adhered to the deck. A rubber roof is estimated to cost $37,000 for single ply and would be warranted for 15 years.
“I was up on the roof recently to see if I could find the spots that leak,” said Ruth, who teaches vocational building trade classes at Fort Madison High School. “I walked both sides of the roof and looked where the work was done. I honestly think the leaks are coming from water getting under the shingles, not where the work was done. At the top there is a 15-foot area of the roof that is flat. Standing water collects there. I don't know the age of the shingles up there.”
Ruth has served on a committee to preserve and use the old gym prior to being elected mayor in November 2007.
In May 2007 he made a presentation to the city council about possible uses for the old gym as an event center for the Tri-State Area. With architectural drawings and a PowerPoint, Ruth showed possible renditions of a renovated gym that could be used for wedding receptions, alumni reunions, recreational and conservation events, school events, business and industry meetings and expositions.
“One concern is that if we use the building as a show place like the drawings we saw last year, the aesthetics of single-ply or foam roofing are not pleasing,” Ruth said. “We can improve the aesthetics if we used a built-up or architectural shingle, like those used on houses. That would have a 40-year warranty. We could use the shingles on portions of the roof that are visible from the street, combined with a rubber roof for higher up.”
Ruth shared a simple sketch he drew of the gym's curved roof. The rubber roof would cover the top of the curve and come down either side to about 18 feet above the gutters. From that 18-foot mark, laminate shingles would complete the roof from the rubber membrane to its bottom edge.
He included cost estimates obtained from a roofing company in Burlington. Ruth said that if the present roof was not torn off and new materials laid over it, the cost would be about $24,817; with tearing off the present roof, the costs would be about $26,900.
“I'd like the council to give some direction,” said Ruth. “Shingles are recommended for a certain pitch of the roof. We can keep the same colors there.”
Council member Mark Conlee said if the city does nothing, the gym will rot.
Council member Melody Slater said she liked the idea of adding insulation with the roofing. Ruth said only the foam roof option would provide insulation with roofing materials.
“I propose we go with Greg's suggestion,” said Conlee. “Let's put it out for bids.”
Ruth said he would write the specifications, if there were no objections. Council members approved seeking bids on a 5-0 vote.
Interstate Power and Light Franchise
Ruth and council member Mary VanPelt met with an Interstate Power and Light community relations representative regarding the city signing a 12-section agreement with Interstate for a franchise.
Last summer, the electrical company sought 25-year franchise agreements with towns in its Southeast Iowa service area.
Keokuk agreed to the 25-year franchise with an option every five years to opt out of the agreement.
“This has nothing to do with bills or rates,” said Ruth. “This is about maintaining utility poles and the company being held liable if anyone hits a pole and is injured.
“I'm in favor of this. Montrose can get the five-year incremental option also. Being part of the franchise makes a lot of grant money available to us. It seems like a win-win situation.”
VanPelt said the franchise also has nothing to do with wind power.
“I think there's a big benefit for us and costs us nothing,” she said.
Resident Patty Zimmerman said she is concerned because nothing is given away for free.
“Will it come back and bite each consumer?” Zimmerman asked.
The franchises with cities are audited by the state, said Ruth.
“It's an agreement we'll partner,” he said. “A high percentage of towns have franchise agreements. The company is required to get so many towns.”
Other residents asked if the franchise would lock Montrose into using only Interstate Power and keep the town from using another utility if it came along and wasn't the subject previously discussed by the council.
Ruth said Montrose would only be committed to Interstate Power for five years. The city council discussed the franchise in June 2007 when Bonnie Donnolly of Alliant Energy came to the council meeting to answer questions.
Resident Penny Jefferson said it would be a good idea to ask other towns that did sign a franchise agreement how it's going.
“Franchises have been around for years,” said Ruth. “The company makes an investment in a town and they'd like to know they have some assurance of keeping its business.”
VanPelt offered to call other towns the size of Montrose to ask about their franchise experience.
“Representatives have been here twice,” said resident Vic Riddle. “No one has agreed before.”
The council agreed to hold a public hearing about the electrical franchise at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, prior to its next regular city council meeting.
“The past two proposals for the roof involved enough money that we need to decide what we want it to look like,” said Mayor Greg Ruth at the April 3 city council meeting.
One option is to use a spray foam roof, estimated to cost in the high $20,000s with a 15-year warranty, Ruth said. The foam also would add insulation to the roof.
A second option is to use a single-ply rubber roof with properties in the rubber that keep it from being affected by the sun's UV rays. Ruth said a rubber roof could be attached using ballast or adhered to the deck. A rubber roof is estimated to cost $37,000 for single ply and would be warranted for 15 years.
“I was up on the roof recently to see if I could find the spots that leak,” said Ruth, who teaches vocational building trade classes at Fort Madison High School. “I walked both sides of the roof and looked where the work was done. I honestly think the leaks are coming from water getting under the shingles, not where the work was done. At the top there is a 15-foot area of the roof that is flat. Standing water collects there. I don't know the age of the shingles up there.”
Ruth has served on a committee to preserve and use the old gym prior to being elected mayor in November 2007.
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“One concern is that if we use the building as a show place like the drawings we saw last year, the aesthetics of single-ply or foam roofing are not pleasing,” Ruth said. “We can improve the aesthetics if we used a built-up or architectural shingle, like those used on houses. That would have a 40-year warranty. We could use the shingles on portions of the roof that are visible from the street, combined with a rubber roof for higher up.”
Ruth shared a simple sketch he drew of the gym's curved roof. The rubber roof would cover the top of the curve and come down either side to about 18 feet above the gutters. From that 18-foot mark, laminate shingles would complete the roof from the rubber membrane to its bottom edge.
He included cost estimates obtained from a roofing company in Burlington. Ruth said that if the present roof was not torn off and new materials laid over it, the cost would be about $24,817; with tearing off the present roof, the costs would be about $26,900.
“I'd like the council to give some direction,” said Ruth. “Shingles are recommended for a certain pitch of the roof. We can keep the same colors there.”
Council member Mark Conlee said if the city does nothing, the gym will rot.
Council member Melody Slater said she liked the idea of adding insulation with the roofing. Ruth said only the foam roof option would provide insulation with roofing materials.
“I propose we go with Greg's suggestion,” said Conlee. “Let's put it out for bids.”
Ruth said he would write the specifications, if there were no objections. Council members approved seeking bids on a 5-0 vote.
Interstate Power and Light Franchise
Ruth and council member Mary VanPelt met with an Interstate Power and Light community relations representative regarding the city signing a 12-section agreement with Interstate for a franchise.
Last summer, the electrical company sought 25-year franchise agreements with towns in its Southeast Iowa service area.
Keokuk agreed to the 25-year franchise with an option every five years to opt out of the agreement.
“This has nothing to do with bills or rates,” said Ruth. “This is about maintaining utility poles and the company being held liable if anyone hits a pole and is injured.
“I'm in favor of this. Montrose can get the five-year incremental option also. Being part of the franchise makes a lot of grant money available to us. It seems like a win-win situation.”
VanPelt said the franchise also has nothing to do with wind power.
“I think there's a big benefit for us and costs us nothing,” she said.
Resident Patty Zimmerman said she is concerned because nothing is given away for free.
“Will it come back and bite each consumer?” Zimmerman asked.
The franchises with cities are audited by the state, said Ruth.
“It's an agreement we'll partner,” he said. “A high percentage of towns have franchise agreements. The company is required to get so many towns.”
Other residents asked if the franchise would lock Montrose into using only Interstate Power and keep the town from using another utility if it came along and wasn't the subject previously discussed by the council.
Ruth said Montrose would only be committed to Interstate Power for five years. The city council discussed the franchise in June 2007 when Bonnie Donnolly of Alliant Energy came to the council meeting to answer questions.
Resident Penny Jefferson said it would be a good idea to ask other towns that did sign a franchise agreement how it's going.
“Franchises have been around for years,” said Ruth. “The company makes an investment in a town and they'd like to know they have some assurance of keeping its business.”
VanPelt offered to call other towns the size of Montrose to ask about their franchise experience.
“Representatives have been here twice,” said resident Vic Riddle. “No one has agreed before.”
The council agreed to hold a public hearing about the electrical franchise at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, May 1, prior to its next regular city council meeting.
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