Board accepts low bid for 2025 HMA paving; discusses using urban renewal funds to add thickness on R20 and widen Osmus shoulders

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday accepted bids and authorized the county engineer to execute contracts for the 2025 HMA paving and resurfacing program after the low bidder submitted a proposal well under the county’s estimate.

County Engineer Scott Miners said the county received two bids for a combined contract covering the R20 paving and the Osmus-Graden paving projects and recommended acceptance of the low bidder, Eulan Brothers of Albert Lea, which submitted a bid of $1,591,601.85. “The low bidder was Eulan Brothers from Albert Lea, $1,591,601.85,” Miners said, noting the total came in about $200,000 below the next bid and substantially under the original estimate.

The recommendation to accept bids and award the associated contracts passed on a voice vote after a motion from Supervisor James Voelte and a second from Supervisor Smith.

Why it matters: Miners told supervisors the lower-than-expected bid gives the county flexibility to spend surplus urban renewal funds on additional work in the project area. Miners said the urban renewal fund currently holds roughly $6.54 million, of which at least $6.15 million must be spent and the fund is accruing interest; he estimated the available additional amount at between about $525,000 and $1.3 million depending on choices supervisors make.

Board discussion focused on two potential uses for surplus funds: increasing the surface overlay thickness on R20 from 1½ inches to 2 inches and widening shoulders on the Osmus (Asmus/Asmus-Graden) project. Supervisor Bill asked for a cost estimate for the extra thickness; Miners said the added ½-inch overlay would be roughly $280,000 based on the bid unit prices and could be accomplished with a change order prior to work starting. “We have, like, $525,000 that we at least need to find a use for and up to maybe $1,300,000 at the very most,” Miners said.

Miners explained why the low bid was significantly below estimates: competitive asphalt pricing and lower hauling and aggregate costs for the low bidder. He also clarified which elements are included in which contracts: the awarded HMA contract covers the paving and many related items, while hot-in-place recycling and milling are part of a separate contract for R20.

Miners and the board discussed schedule and project logistics, including the difficulty of coordinating railroad crossing work with Union Pacific. Miners said the county would pay the full cost of approaches and new panels at the R20 crossing and that timing alignment with UP flaggers typically proves difficult.

The board gave staff direction to further refine cost estimates and return with recommendations. Miners said he would run quantities and unit-price scenarios and provide updated line-item estimates so supervisors could decide which additional items to add to the contract or handle as change orders.

Provenance: The discussion and vote were recorded when the county engineer introduced the item and when members voted to approve the resolution accepting bids and authorizing contracts (transcript excerpts provided).