Forest Lake council awards veterans memorial construction contract, defers final paver sales decision

The Forest Lake City Council voted to award the veterans memorial construction contract to the low bidder and to proceed with the project as engineered, council members said during the regular meeting.

Council members approved the contract award after discussion of contractor experience, paver sizes and a draft agreement with veterans groups for long‑term maintenance. The council motion to "approve the contract as presented by the engineers" carried at the meeting.

City staff said contractor Pembroke Companies has worked for the city previously on road projects and Safe Routes to School work; staff and council expressed confidence in the firm's ability to complete the memorial project.

Committee members representing the Veterans Memorial Committee and local veterans organizations described two procurement choices for commemorative pavers. One option would be to buy and install all blank pavers now (the consultant estimate in the packet showed the blanks priced at about $17,870). The other option is to install blanks only where already sold and use a removable filler (sand or similar material) in unsold spaces, purchasing and engraving pavers as sales occur.

Ron Miller, Veterans Memorial Committee chair, told the council the committee prefers selling and engraving pavers on an as‑sold basis rather than buying and installing all blanks immediately. He said the engineers' bid used a ratio of more small pavers than the committee expects buyers to choose; committee sales records for recent years showed stronger demand for the larger paver.

City staff and the veterans groups are continuing work on a written maintenance and liability agreement that will define responsibilities for on‑site flags, vandalism response and long‑term upkeep. City staff said the state historical funding the committee pursued was approved and that those funds will be forthcoming through the Minnesota Historical Society process.

The council approved the project award to the low bidder to avoid delaying the contractor's start date; staff said delaying award would push the construction start into later fall weather windows. Council members asked staff to continue negotiating paver procurement and the maintenance agreement and to return to council if the parties seek contract change orders related to paver materials or installation timing.

The motion awarding the contract passed at the meeting during the regular agenda. The council did not change the bid award tonight but signaled willingness to consider a future change order if both the contractor and council agree to a different paver procurement approach.