Council approves plans and authorizes bids for Veterans Memorial at Lakeside Park

The Forest Lake City Council on July 14 approved plans and specifications and authorized staff to advertise for bids for the Veterans Memorial project at Lakeside Park.

City staff presented a project schedule calling for a bid opening on Aug. 6 and council consideration of contract award at the Aug. 11 meeting. Construction is slated to begin after Labor Day, with work planned from early September through November. City staff said the scope includes utility work, concrete footings, concrete modular block walls, concrete and unit brick paver surfacing and attachment points for a central sculpture; the sculpture itself will be installed later.

A representative of the American Legion told the council the veterans’ committee has reviewed the plans and supports the design. “We worked on this really hard ... The last thing we want to do is put this together with them not being a 100% sure,” an American Legion representative said, summarizing the group’s close involvement with the design revisions.

Council moved and seconded to approve the plans and authorize the city to advertise for bids. No council members registered opposition on the record. Staff said the project will be “shovel ready” after bid award, with the exception of the central sculpture attachment, which will come later.

The council’s authorization allows staff to finalize bid documents and proceed to procurement; the contract award and construction schedule will return for council action after bids are opened and evaluated.