Dickinson approves multiple 2025 infrastructure contracts, dam studies and water-main replacements

The Dickinson City Commission voted Tuesday to approve a series of engineering agreements, cost-share contracts and bid awards for a slate of 2025 public-works projects, including dam safety work, several water-main replacements, road maintenance and corridor design for 20 First Street West.

The measures approved included Department of Water Resources (DWR) cost-share agreements to produce an emergency action plan (EAP) and a risk assessment for the Queen City Dam, a DWR-supported feasibility study for Manns Dam, a land donation needed for the East Broadway dam replacement, a master service agreement and task orders with Moore Engineering, and multiple low-bid awards for 2025 construction projects including water-main replacement, road maintenance, North Industry Street and storm improvements, the Sims corridor project and a Dickinson High School water-main loop.

City senior engineer Christopher Keller said the EAP agreement would reimburse the city for 80% of the EAP cost up to nearly $100,000, leaving a city share of about $25,000. "The agreement is to reimburse the city for 80% of the cost to complete the EAP up to almost a $100,000," Keller said. He told commissioners the work is required under North Dakota Department of Water Resources dam safety standards.

Engineering and community development staff also described multiple competitive bid results that came in well under engineer estimates. The low bid for the 2025 road maintenance project was about $6.01 million, roughly 29% below the engineer's opinion of probable cost of $8.46 million. The apparent low bid for the 2025 water-main replacement was $3.47 million, about 27% under the estimate. City staff said lower mobilization, traffic-control, and unit prices were among the reasons bids trended lower than estimates.

Engineering director Sklizacek (as listed in the meeting record) described the intended program and funding. "Project plans and specifications are intended to remain with the DOT as bid ready until funding becomes available," the director said regarding the 20 First Street West corridor design task order for Moore Engineering, which the commission approved in a not-to-exceed amount of $183,835.

Several projects are tied to state or federal funding sources: some water-main replacement work was submitted for and subsequently awarded Department of Water Resources grants; the water-main projects also use Gross Production Tax (GPT) and state revolving fund loans (including loan forgiveness for lead-service-line replacements). For the 2025 water-main replacement project staff reported an awarded DWR grant covering roughly 60% of eligible costs and said they will present the formal cost-share agreement when finalized.

Commissioners voted unanimously on each separate contract and bid award after staff described scope, funding and next steps, including required approvals from state agencies (for example, the state Department of Environmental Quality review for projects tied to state revolving fund loans). City staff said construction is planned for the 2025 construction season on the awarded projects.

The commission also approved a warranty deed accepting donated land adjacent to the Heart (Heart River) and west of Sixth Avenue SE needed to construct the rock-riffle structure that will replace the East Broadway Dam. Keller said the deed and project documents had been reviewed by the city attorney.

City engineering staff recommended the package of awards and agreements. Commissioners noted the unusually competitive bid climate for the spring, and staff attributed much of the low-bid environment to broader market conditions and good preparation of plans and specifications.

Moving forward, staff said some work remains contingent on final contracts (for example, with Barr Engineering on several dam-related studies) and on final notifications from state agencies for awarded grant and loan documents.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded unanimous aye votes for each motion approving cost-share agreements for Queen City Dam EAP and risk assessment, the Manns Dam feasibility study, the East Broadway land donation, the Moore Engineering master service agreement and task orders, and bid awards for North Industry Street and Storm, 2025 road maintenance, 2025 water-main replacement, Sims corridor, Dickinson High School water-main extension and the 20 First Street West task order.

By approving the package the commission moved multiple capital improvements into design or procurement phases; staff said the projects are budgeted in the 2025 Capital Improvement Plan and largely funded through GPT, state grants and loans, special improvement districts and other project-specific sources.