(Spirit Lake)– A controversial street project in Spirit Lake is moving forward.
The city council Tuesday awarded a bid on the South Hill Avenue project following a public hearing attended by more than 50 people. Most spoke in favor of the project. Businessman Ivan Brown says it’s important for the city to show it’s progressive in order to promote economic development and draw more people to the community. Brown recalled that Spirit Lake was actually at the bottom of their list of prospective sites when his company was looking to relocate several years ago. He says Spirit Lake was suddenly bumped up when he learned of the city’s beautification plans.
Loralee Mulder of Spirit Lake spoke in opposition to the project, saying she feels the boulevards are excessive. She also questioned the timing of the bidletting, before the new council is seated.
Jackie Olson, another opponent of the project, presented a petition with 23 signatures from people opposing it.
Following the public hearing the council voted five to nothing to award the low bid on the South Hill Avenue project to Allied Construction of Charles City in the amount of 1,969,972-dollars…below the engineer’s estimate of 2.18 million.
Olson told the council she’ll request a hearing on the matter before the state’s appeals board.
