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Council approves Perka Ditch bid amid concern about state flood-control funding cuts
Summary
The council unanimously approved the lowest responsible bidder for Perka Ditch improvements but members raised alarms after staff reported bids came in about 46% over estimates and state flood-control funding was reduced.
The Minot City Council unanimously awarded the Perka Ditch improvements contract on April 7 but several council members pressed staff about sharply higher-than-expected bid prices and reduced state flood-control allocations.
Alderman Rob Blessum spoke at length after pulling the item from the consent agenda to prompt discussion about the flood-control program’s finances. Blessum said he had learned state funding for flood control had been reduced from $125 million to $65 million and that the Perka Ditch bid arrived about 46% over the city’s estimate. “If the state’s not going to take our flood-control project seriously, I think we need to look at every single dollar that we’re spending,” Blessum said.
City staff noted the award was the recommended action and moved the project forward; the council voted to approve the award unanimously after discussion. Council members asked staff to continue tracking state funding and to pursue strategies to control future costs. The Perka Ditch procurement proceeded as a single awarded contract; council members signaled interest in additional oversight and potential cost-saving measures going forward.
The action will keep the flood-control schedule moving while staff continues engagement with state officials about funding levels.
(See related action: city direction to staff on broader flood-control priorities and budgeting.)
