La Porte City board approves low bid for Perry Street improvements

The La Porte City Board of Public Works and Safety voted Oct. 28 to approve Reeth Riley Construction as the low bidder for the Perry Street improvement project, contingent on a final staff review.

City staff opened and read three sealed bids during the board meeting. Nick Minnick, a staff member who ran the bid opening, said the bids appeared complete on initial review and that he would perform a final mathematical and documentation check before the contract is executed. "The bid from Reeth Riley Construction is in the amount of $249,016.50," Minnick said. "I would recommend Reeth Riley as the low bidder." The other bids read into the record were Milestone Contractors at $279,746 and Gary Up Construction at $253,700.

Minnick told the board the notice to bidders was published in mid-October and that the project required formal bidding because it exceeded an internal threshold. He said the goal is for the work to be substantially completed before the Blockheads event opens. "Our goal is to have it substantially completed by the time Blockheads opens," Minnick said.

A motion to approve Reeth Riley as the low bidder pending Minnick's additional review was made and seconded; the board voted in favor. Board minutes show the motion passed by voice vote with those present saying "Aye." The motion was approved subject to staff resolving any mathematical errors or documentation issues; if problems are discovered, staff said the item would be brought back to a future meeting.

The meeting record does not specify the contract amount as awarded nor a final contract-signing date; those steps are contingent on completion of the staff review and any standard purchasing approvals.