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Cole County awards Wildwood Drive extension contract to Don Schneiders Excavating after bids exceed estimate
Summary
Cole County Commission awarded the Wildwood Drive extension contract to Don Schneiders Excavating Company despite bids arriving above the engineer's estimate and the county budget; commissioners approved budget adjustments and reimbursement arrangement with Public Water Supply District No. 2 for waterline work.
Cole County Commission voted Jan. 28 to award the Wildwood Drive extension and paving project to Don Schneiders Excavating Company after reviewing four bids and budget adjustments to cover a higher-than-estimated contract amount.
Public Works staff told commissioners that bids were opened Jan. 17 and that the project includes grading and paving Wildwood Drive from Edgewood Drive South to Rock Ridge Road and constructing a roundabout at Wildwood and Rock Ridge. Two alternate bids included a waterline installation that Public Water Supply District No. 2 will reimburse. Public Works recommended awarding the base bid including the reimbursable waterline installation.
The county’s engineer estimated the project at $5,850,946.26; the low/selected bid totaled $6,047,872.30. Staff said the difference was largely due to escalating construction costs generally and to reimbursable items—waterline work and city sewer work tied to development—that reduce county expense. Public Works outlined internal budget adjustments to cover the county’s share of the increase, including delaying some projects and reallocating funds: $100,000 by completing North Rock Creek engineering in-house, deferring Hem Street Road bridge demolition bid to next year (saving $125,000 in the current plan), and postponing a $500,000 county contribution tied to the High Street Biota cooperative project after the city indicated it would not request those funds in the current calendar year. Staff said those moves free roughly $725,000 and cover the approximately $716,000 additional budget need.
Commission discussion noted the engineer’s estimate versus actual bid numbers and confirmed that some reimbursable work (waterline and city sewer) effectively reduces the apparent overage. A motion was made and seconded to award the contract to Don Schneiders Excavating Company; commissioners voted in favor.
Votes at a glance: motion to award the Wildwood Drive extension contract to Don Schneiders Excavating Company — approved.
Ending: Public Works will finalize the contract and coordinate waterline reimbursement with Public Water Supply District No. 2; the project will proceed under the awarded contract.
