New Ulm council sets multiple bid dates, awards $1.32 million storm‑sewer contract

The New Ulm City Council on Tuesday approved plans and set bid dates for two public‑works projects and awarded a contract to build a storm‑sewer lift station. Council members set a March 18, 2026 bid opening for the 2026 Utility Street and Alley Improvement Project and a March 24, 2026 bid opening for the airport crosswind runway project, and they approved awarding the 18th South Street storm‑sewer lift station contract to Holt Meyer Construction for $1,321,233.

The actions were taken by resolution during the council’s Feb. 17 meeting. Public‑works staff told the council they had previously held a public hearing and presented plans and specifications for each project before asking the council to authorize bid advertising and set opening dates.

“We’re asking you to approve the plans and specs and set the bid date for March 18,” a city staff member told the council regarding the Utility Street and Alley project. The council offered and adopted a resolution to advertise bids and accept bids at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 in council chambers.

On the airport project, staff said the crosswind runway construction will follow the airport layout plan and noted the work is funded by congressionally directed spending, with an awarded amount of $2,500,000. The council authorized staff to advertise and open bids at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

For the 18th South Street storm‑sewer lift station, staff reported five bids ranging from $1,300,000 to $1,800,000, with the low bid roughly 13% below the engineer’s estimate of about $1,500,000. Staff recommended the low bidder, Holt Meyer Construction of Mankato, and recommended award; a council member moved to award the contract to Holt Meyer for $1,321,233 and the motion carried on an affirmative voice/roll call.

Staff told the council the storm‑sewer project is partially funded by FEMA pre‑disaster mitigation funds in the amount of $1,125,000, with the city’s share coming from the 2025 bond issuance. The consultant’s recommended award letter was included in the meeting packet.

What happens next: Staff will publish bid documents and open bids on the dates set by the council. The awarded contractor for the lift station will be expected to proceed with construction under the terms of the contract and scope approved by the city; project administration and disbursement details were included in the meeting materials.

Provenance: city staff presentation and council motion/vote recorded in the Feb. 17 meeting (see meeting minutes/transcript entries for the Utility Street item and the airport runway item and the 18th South Street storm‑sewer lift station discussion).