Council approves Seville parking-lot reconstruction after local-preference bid review

The Petoskey City Council voted Jan. 6 to award a contract for the Seville parking-lot reconstruction to Tri County Excavating of Harbor Springs, approving a complete rebuild that will remove guardrails, replace pavement, add stormwater infiltration below the parking area, install new pay stations and add landscaping and screening of electrical equipment.

Public-works staff explained the award reflected the city’s local-preference purchasing policy. City staff said the low bid technically belonged to an out-of-county contractor, but the city’s policy applies a local preference that shifted the award to the in-county bidder.

"We're gonna remove those ugly looking guardrails, pull all the meters out, put new pay stations in, new pavement structure...add some stormwater infrastructure below pavement," Public Works Director Jason Fay said, describing the project and a target completion in late May.

The project will also add several motorcycle parking spaces and bicycle parking areas; council asked staff to ensure service vehicles can access back-of-house dumpster and recycling routes during construction.

Motion and vote: Councilmember Shields moved to approve the contract; Councilmember Walker seconded. The council approved the award on roll-call vote recorded in the meeting minutes.

What the project changes: contractors will reconstruct pavement and drainage, install pay stations, screen electrical equipment, and add trees and bicycle/motorcycle parking; staff estimated a late-May completion, with work to begin in early spring and phasing designed to limit disruption to downtown visitors.