Council approves $48,260 award for Tower Avenue arch footings; mayor to lead capital campaign

The council approved awarding the contract for footings for a proposed commemorative arch on Tower Avenue to low bidder Chippewa Concrete Services for $48,260.

Public Works staff and the mayor described the work as footing and conduit preparation for a reconstructed arch that the mayor characterized as a historic community icon and a veterans’ memorial. The mayor said he intends to lead a private capital campaign to fund the remainder of the arch construction and would return to the council with cost estimates and a design proposal; the mayor proposed using contingency from the Tower Avenue project to pay for the footings now while fundraising is pursued.

Council discussion covered whether city funds should pay any portion of the arch, whether the footings should be installed now while streets are open (construction staff and a councilor with construction experience said it is cheaper and simpler to do the work now), and whether the full arch could be privately funded. One councilor said he opposed using city money for the arch; others said doing the footings now avoided later cost and disruption. Councilor Olsen, who spoke from a construction perspective, said it is cheaper to do the work now while the street is open.

A motion to award the footings contract to Chippewa Concrete Services carried on a voice vote with at least one recorded opposition; the mayor said the footings would come from the Tower Avenue project contingency if necessary. The mayor said he will return with a detailed design, cost estimates and a capital campaign plan.