Norwalk council approves contract, funding and inspections for Public Works–Parks storage building

Norwalk City Council on May 1 approved contracts and related documents to construct a shared Public Works and Parks & Recreation storage building, awarding the construction contract and authorizing additional engineering inspections and contract documents needed to begin work.

The council voted to approve the plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for a 50-by-200-foot storage building, to award the construction contract to Ike and Day Construction LLC for $1,043,388, and to approve the contract and bond. Council also authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Snyder and Associates for additional engineering inspections, estimated at about $35,000. Council members said construction is slated to begin June 1, 2025, and finish in fall 2025.

Why it matters: the building will provide shared storage and operational space for Public Works and Parks & Recreation and is funded from multiple city sources including road-use, stormwater, water and sewer funds and proceeds from a recent bond sale. Approving the contract and inspection services clears the way for demolition and ordering of materials, actions staff said must be timed to contractor schedules.

City staff said six bids were received and the low bidder came in slightly above the engineer's estimate. "We received 6 bids for the project. Engineer's estimate was 1,019,000, so it came in just over," Lindsay said during the meeting. The council also voted to authorize Snyder and Associates to provide a limited supplemental scope to verify materials and perform inspections that public-works staff cannot fully provide; Lindsay said the supplemental inspection work is roughly $35,000.

During discussion council members asked whether retaining some in-house inspection work saved money; staff said they could not provide a firm comparison. "This is $35,000 for the inspections," Lindsay said when asked about the supplemental-agreement cost. The council approved the four items by roll call votes.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution approving plans, specifications, form of contract and estimate of cost for the Public Works and Park storage building — Motion by Council member Livingston, seconded by Council member Brown; roll call: Brown, Poole, Livingston, Meineke, Baker — approved. - Resolution awarding contract for the Public Works and Park storage building (award to Ike and Day Construction LLC) — Motion by Council member Baker, seconded by Council member Livingston; roll call: Cool, Livingston, Meineke, Baker, Brown — approved. Contract amount: $1,043,388. Engineer's estimate: $1,019,000. Six bids received. - Resolution approving contract and bond for the Public Works and Park storage building — Motion by Council member Brown, seconded by Council member Livingston; roll call: Livingston, Meineke, Baker, Brown, Cool — approved. - Resolution approving Supplemental Agreement No. 1 with Snyder and Associates for additional engineering services (inspections/material verification) — Motion by Council member Livingston, seconded by Council member Meineke; roll call: Meineke, Baker, Brown, Poole, Livingston — approved. Supplemental inspection estimate: approximately $35,000.

Project funding and schedule: staff said the project will be paid from a mix of road-use tax, stormwater, water and sewer funds and proceeds of a recent bond sale. Staff said demolition of existing structures could begin soon; materials for the new building are on a 12-week lead time and construction is expected to conclude by fall 2025.

What’s next: with the contract and contract documents approved, staff said contractor mobilization and material ordering will follow. Staff indicated they will manage inspection and compliance tasks under the city’s contract with Snyder and Associates.

Speakers and attributions in this report are drawn from the council meeting transcript of May 1, 2025.