Bids lower than expected for sidewalk, street work

Council members accepting bids on the Sixth Avenue West recreational trail sidewalk project and the Seventh Avenue East curb and gutter project found bids comfortably under earlier engineering estimates.

TR Harris Construction, of Homer, Neb., submitted the low bid of $118,516, out of six submitted to the Iowa Department of Transportation for the project.

The successful bid for the originally estimated $120,000 Sixth Avenue project, will include installing sidewalks along Sixth Avenue West and 12th Street South.

Project work will begin July 21 with an Aug. 18 completion date, scheduled City Administrator Scott Langel said to prevent disruption of summer baseball and school activities near the work site.

Funding for the project will be with a "maximum" federal participation of 80 percent ($94,813) with a $23,705 assessment to the Le Mars Community School District.

The school district has also agreed to move and replace fencing at the site and to provide necessary easement without cost to the city, Langel said.

The city's share of the project's cost will be for engineering fees.

The successful Harris bid of $199,732 on the Seventh Avenue East (K-49) curb and gutter project compares with an earlier engineering estimate of $233,000.

The council, given the under-estimate bid, has expressed hope that the possibility exists for added project intersection work. The work is scheduled to begin May 4 with completion in 35 working days.

Councilman John Rexwinkel also suggested that residents of the area could be interested in private negotiations with the Harris firm as to contracting for needed sidewalk work near the street construction site.

Langel advised the council that detours will be necessary throughout work on both the sidewalk and street project and that necessary information will be provided to residents prior to start-up of the projects.

Tuesday's meeting also included a public hearing on the Iowa Highway 3 storm sewer project near Floyd Valley Hospital.

Council members will accept and award bids on the estimated $304,000 project, to be completed prior to the widening of Highway 3, at their next meeting April 21 with construction expected to begin May 1 and be complete July 10.

Road use tax funding of $204,000 (with an additional $44,950 for engineering/construction services) and $100,000 in local storm sewer funds will be used to finance the project.

City staff has said earlier the drainage improvement is needed to aid in eliminating standing water near Sixth Avenue Northeast and Medical Associates. A "slight" detour for Highway 3 motorists will be necessary during the construction period.