The Eagle Grove City Council held a special meeting Wednesday, April 21 to review and discuss the bid documents for the 2021 Street Improvement Project after they were unable to come to a majority decision during their regular meeting held Monday, April 19. All council members were present for the meeting. Also present were: Robert Lunda – Eagle Grove Public Works Director; Dave Ricken of Heartland Asphalt; Scott Dockstader of Asphalt Paving Association; Chad Nichols of Yohnco; Leonard Larson of ISG; Greg Mulder IA of the Concrete Paving Association; as well as Joey Whitehouseof ISG and Chris Jessen.
“These bid documents we will be discussing are approved after a public hearing, submitted to the contractors that wish to bid and provide that documentation back to the city by bid letting time,” said Eagle Grove City Administrator Bryce Davis
ISG Engineer Leonard Larson said when they started designing the Eagle Grove Street Improvement Project, they were designing on a concrete-based project. They then decided to add an asphalt option that would be similar, but perhaps a little more cost-effective.
“We tried to create a competitive bid environment,” said Larson. “It opens it up to the City to award whatever they feel is in their best interest.”
City Attorney Brett Legvold said that bid form Section 5.03 sets forth how the city would go about awarding the bid. “The City can choose within the public interest what the lowest bid is going to be, not to benefit any particular contractor, but protect the taxpayers,” said Legvold.
He then reminded the contractors, “It goes without saying, but, there can not be any attempt at negotiating a contract after the bid has been opened.
After this information was presented, Councilman Josh Schild said, “I would like to see all three division done if we can financially afford it.”
Council members Chase Quintus agreed. So did Al Pamperin, Matt Jergens, and Sonya Middleton, who all spoke up right away.
The bids were reviewed as follows:
Doing all three divisions
Division 1 – Iowa to Garfield
Division 2 – Garfieldto Western
Division 3 – Western to Hewitt
PCC – (concrete) – Yohn – $746,360.25
HMA – (Asphalt) – Heartland Asphalt – $742,260.72
“I would like to see us use the concrete,” said Councilman Schild again.
“I would like to see concrete also, just for the simple fact that we have a lot of asphalt streets already and when we can go to concrete we should,” said Pamperin who works on streets from time to time.
He added that cutting into and patching concrete is much easier than it is on asphalt.
Robert Lunda added “I think overall, when you break it down it’ $819.91 difference per block…and I feel this particular project is a good option for concrete.”
Middleton questioned why this street project is different from any of the others they’ve done asphalt on.
Lunda responded saying that it is a heavy traffic area compared to some of the others.
After listening to the conversation, Jergens said, “(Lunda’s) opinion is the one that outweighs everyone else's.”
Quints and Councilman MIke Weland said they agreed 100 percent.
“We established there was a base and an alternative…we have a choice. They are obviously two different projects,” said Mayor Sandy McGrath. “We are looking at this on the product we want to use and the product we want to see on our streets.”
After some discussion, Councilman Jergens motioned that the Council award Yohn Concrete Company (using PCC), Sections 1, 2, and 3 of the project. Pamperin gave a second. There was no further discussion. The Council voted
unanimously to approve the motion.
