(Spirit Lake)– The Spirit Lake city council Tuesday deferred action on awarding a bid for the reconstruction of several blocks of 19th Street.
Four firms submitted bids on the project between Hill and Jackson Avenues. The lowest was submitted by Wick’s Construction of Decorah in the amount of 396,313-dollars, below the engineer’s estimate of 415,308-dollars. The next lowest bid was about 10-thousand dollars higher.
Alternate bids were also submitted to reconstruct an additional block of the street between Jackson and Keokuk Avenues, but City Administrator Mark Stevens recommended the council NOT proceed with that part of the project right now due to prospects for future development in that area.
Several council members, including Clyde Ihrke, expressed concern over previous projects the low bidder had been involved with in the city, saying while the quality of work excellent, he feels they had problem meeting deadlines. Councilman Kevin Bice agreed.
Ihrke added it’s vital 19th Street be completed on time, saying it’s a heavily traveled street.
The county will also be paving some parking lots near the courthouse at roughly the same time the street is under construction.
The council Tuesday deferred action on the bid, referring the matter to the city’s Street Committee for a recommendation.
