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Hibbing authorizes bids for three 2025 water projects and accepts $1.616 million waterline bid
Summary
The commission authorized bids for three 2025 water distribution projects — including full reconstruction of 17th Street, repairs on 5th/6th streets, a hydrant replacement program and Second Avenue work — and accepted a $1,616,092.50 bid for the 2025 capital waterline improvement.
The Hibbing Public Utilities Commission on March 20 authorized advertisement for three 2025 water distribution projects and accepted a $1,616,092.50 bid for a capital waterline improvement tied to the city’s Third Street project.
Staff introduced three projects slated for bidding: a full reconstruction of 17th Street between First and Third avenues; water main replacement on Fifth and Sixth streets between Sixteenth and Eighteenth (where directional drilling will be used to limit surface disturbance); and a hydrant replacement/repair project that staff estimated would replace approximately 25 hydrants. A separate Second Avenue project will proceed once environmental checks are completed for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) allocation; staff noted coordination with the county and city was ongoing.
"One of the projects is replacing water main on Seventeenth Street, between First Avenue and Third Avenue," project manager Josh told the commission. He said 17th will be a full reconstruction because of street width, while Fifth and Sixth will use drilling to limit disturbance. Josh also said repairs are spearheaded by HPU staff with input from the fire department on hydrant locations.
Commissioners asked whether bidding documents were ready and whether the utility is coordinating with city paving plans. Josh said bidding could begin "tomorrow" for two projects; the hydrant list and Second Avenue details were still being finalized and coordinated with the Fire Department and county CDBG environmental checks. Staff emphasized cost‑sharing and coordination: "On Seventeenth Street, we're replacing some of their storm sewer with our project… it's probably $75,000 in storm sewer improvements," Josh said.
Commissioner Babich moved and Commissioner Stokes supported a motion to accept the bid results for the 2025 capital waterline improvement in the amount of $1,616,092.50; the motion carried on voice vote. Earlier in the meeting a motion by Commissioner Stokes, supported by Commissioner Sandstedt, authorized the advertisement for the distribution water projects; that motion likewise carried on voice vote.
Staff said the water main portion of the cooperative Third Street project is approximately $1.6 million and that the city is expected to award the overall street bid in early April. A draft cooperative agreement with the City of Hibbing — intended to streamline pay‑application review and timelines — was reported close to final and will be executed once both parties sign off.
