A2 PALO VERDE VALLeY TIMES, Wednesday, July 19, 2017
City of Blythe rejects contractors
bid for Broadway property cleanup
By Cathyleen Rice
Times Reporter
Staff held a bid opening on June
30 for the cleanup of 223 S. Broad-
way, which resulted in only one
firm responding from the eight lo-
cal contractors invited to bid.
Making an offer to clear and
clean the land for $12,900, Council
decided to reject that bid made by
Crawford and Associates.
With a budget of $7,000 appropri-
ated by funds from unpaid leave
not taken by the Deputy Admin-
istrative Services Director, it was
approved at the May 9 meeting for
the site to get cleaned up and for
the work not to exceed the allotted
amount.
As the bid exceeds the amount
available for this expenditure,
staff recommends council reject
this bid, said City Clerk, Deputy
Administrative Services Director,
and now Interim City Manager
Mallory Crecelius at the July 11
City Council meeting.
With Council opening up public
comment before taking action on
this particular item, resident and
State Farm Agent Leslie Jessop-
Watkins approached the board and
stated, I know that Jason (Brown,
City of Blythe Code Enforcement
Department) has worked very long
and hard on several of our major
code compliance issues throughout
the city. On this particular case, I
think there was some confusion at
the city leadership level with re-
gard to the process to go forth with
the bidding. So, if we could get that
process refined, I believe youll
have more bidders, including R&L
Watkins, Inc., which is my demoli-
tion company.
Agreeing with Jessop-Watkins
advice to open the bidding process
again, Mayor Joey DeConinck said,
I would like to see if we could get
this back out to bid again. I would
like to get this agendized; whatever
we need to get this moved forward.
To get the proper amendment,
council unanimously voted in fa-
vor of rejecting the first bid, then
later gave direction to staff to re-
open the budget to ensure $7,000 is
This property, located at 223 S. Broadway, is one of many junk yards in the
area cluttered with shopping cards, clothes, odds and ends from boats, cars and old
junk. The council is seeking a bidder that fits its budget to cleanup properties like the
one above. This will be the first of many dilapidated buildings to get cleaned up by
Councils actions.
there to withdraw, should a con-
tractors bid meet the Citys crite-
ria.
Per the Mayors request, this
item will be put back on the agenda
and bidding will commence tenta-
tively, after the August City Coun-
cil meeting.
According to the Code Enforce-
ment Board Up Procedures, the du-
ties that lie ahead include ridding
the property of all junk, debris,
trash, piled wood waste, any con-
crete debris and etc; removing all
weeds, dead bushes, trees and trim-
ming any remaining trees; board-
ing up and tightly securing the
structure against unlawful tres-
pass; hauling off and/or recycling
trash without assistance from the
Photo by Cathyleen Rice/palo verde valley times
City and above all, protecting/pre-
venting reentry.
In compliance with the demand
of clearing the wasteful property,
the city requires all, Work must
commence within one week and be
completed no later than 15 business
days thereafter. Work not complet-
ed within the time period specified
will cause the bid price awarded to
be reduced by 7 percent for each
day the work remains incomplete,
and the contractor must provide
the equipment and manpower
needed to complete the project.
To find out more information on
the bid cleanup, interested parties
can call Crecelius at (760) 922-6161,
ext. 1237.
Keep up with
the latest
local news by
following us
on Facebook
at www.
facebook.com/
blythenews.
Obituaries
Shirley Louise Dekens
January 9, 1923-July 7, 2017
Shirley Louise Dekens was
born in Natchez, Mississippi
on January 9, 1923 and
passed away on July 7,
2017. She died peacefully
at home in Blythe with
family by her side.
She was preceded in death
by her husband of fifty-
eight years, Ted Dekens,
and her sons, Teddy
Edward and Michael Guy
Dekens. Also by her sister,
Mae Drake and her niece
Judy Vogt.
She is survived by her eldest son Waymen Dekens
(Carolyn), five grandchildren: Shirley Waynette Dixon,
Michelle Dekens, Waymen Dekens Jr., Mark Dekens
and Lana Dekens Chaney.
In addition, there are nine great grandchildren and
twelve great-great grandchildren: Gideon Scooter
Johnson ( Sara) and children, Kassidee and Kyler;
Deonna Stephensen (Paul) and children, Malaki, Levi
and Alison; Sasha Watters; Blake Chaney; Joshua
Dekens (Faith) and children, Kaleb Kylie and Kaelynn,
Christie Dekens and her girls, Candace, Caitlin and
Margie Ruth. Also, Jennifer Hope (Jason John) and
children, Bobby and KayDee; Jessica Lindquist (Tim
Crain) and their daughter Brooklyn; LeeAnn Wilson and
daughter KateLynn.
Shirley is also survived by one niece, Betty Quinn, and
two sister-in-laws, Georgia Dekens and Joanne Dekens.
She is also survived by her very best friend in the world,
Josie Cauwel- they raised their families together,
comforted each other as they buried their husbands, and
grew old together.
Ted and Shirley were married on July 13, 1939 and
moved to Blythe in 1942, shortly after the birth of their
first son Waymen. While raising her three sons, Shirley
was very active in the community. She was a cub scout
leader, a catechism teacher, a member of the PTA,
active member of the Alter Society, a BPOE Doe and a
member of the Blythe Jr. Womens Club.
She became an avid bowler and enjoyed that sport for
many years. She also traveled much of the world and
most of the United States with friends Shirley Kribbs and
Josie Cauwel.
Services will be held at Fry Chapel Monday July 17, at
11:00 am with burial at Palo Verde Cemetery beside her
husband and son.
Please sign the guestbook at
www.legacy.com/obituaries/obituaries/paloverdevalleytimes
Maria Miranda Duarte
December 19, 1917- June 28, 2017
Maria Miranda Duarte, 99,
died peacefully in her sleep on
June 28, 2017 in her home in
Blythe, California. Born
December 19, 1917 in Leon,
Guanajuato, Mexico, and
predeceased by her parents
Atilano Miranda and Luciana
Negrete Miranda and her late
husband, Alejandro Chino,
Robles Duarte. Over the span
of 70 years, she and Chino
raised their family in the Palo
Verde Valley also creating
long lasting friendships along
the way.
Survivors include 6 daughters and son: Alma Angelina
Duarte of Blythe, Celia Hernandez of Rancho
Cucamonga, Irma DeForest of Blythe, Maria Gloria
Holler of Blythe, Grace Taylor of Blythe, Racheal Duarte
of Blythe and Alex Duarte of Vista. Blessed with 7
grandchildren she was fortunate to be Nana to all of
them and Nanagrande to her 6 great-grandchildren,
and Tia Maria to many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Mass was held at St. Joan of Arc Catholic
Church, Bythe, CA, on Thursday, July 6, at 10 a.m.
Father Alex officiated. Graveside services took place at
Blythe Cemetery immediately afterwards. Family,
relatives and friends gathered at a reception held at the
VFW Post 2987, 148 No. 1st Street. All may visit Frye
Mortuary.com to sign the memory book and extend
condolences to the family.
Please sign the guestbook at
www.legacy.com/obituaries/paloverdevalleytimes