Marion awards 2025 crack-sealing contract to Paid Asphalt after three bids

Council awards crack-sealing contract to low bidder Paid Asphalt; engineers to inspect work.

The Marion City Council voted Aug. 21 to approve the project calendar and award the 2025 crack-sealing contract to Paid Asphalt, the low bidder at $71,792.

City engineer Mike told the council the low bid of $71,792 was about 72.6% of the engineering estimate and carried a completion date of Nov. 3, 2025, with 300 working days. The project covers recently overlaid streets, including West Eighth Avenue from Lindale to Donnelly Park and Business 151 (Tenth Avenue/Business 151) from 30 Fifth to 13th, and is intended to seal reflective cracks in the asphalt so water cannot penetrate to the underlying concrete.

“The low bid came in from Paid Asphalt at $71,792, which was 72.6% of the engineering estimate, has a completion date of 11/3/25 with 300 working days,” Mike said during the presentation.

Council member Harper asked specifically whether Business 151 coverage included the stretch east from 30 Fifth to 13th; Mike confirmed it did and characterized the work as a preventive maintenance measure to avoid deterioration that leads to bumpiness at joints.

Mike said the city had previously bid the project once with no bidders; because of traffic levels on these roads the city opted to hire a contractor instead of using in-house maintenance crews. He added that city staff would perform inspections and ensure the contractor meets specifications.

The council approved the project calendar and related resolutions (Nos. 32,516 and 32,517) by voice vote.

The motion carries with standard inspection oversight by city staff; no budgetary breakdown beyond the contract price was presented in the meeting.

(See provenance below for transcript excerpts.)