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Onalaska awards Grandview water-main repair to BKC Construction for $204,644.84
Summary
Council awarded the Grandview Boulevard water-main repair to BKC Construction for $204,644.84 after a six-bid opening; staff and the board noted safeguards against underbids and that change orders would require board and council approval.
The Onalaska Common Council authorized awarding the Grandview Boulevard water-main repair to BKC Construction for $204,644.84 on Feb. 10, following a bid opening that produced six bidders.
Senior engineer (Jared Holter) told the council the city had received “some very good prices” and recommended BKC Construction, whose bid of $204,644.84 was substantially below the $335,000 estimate the city had presented earlier. “We are recommending BKC Construction in the amount of $204,644.84,” he said.
Alderman Jim Benash asked what protections the city has if a low bidder later seeks to increase the contract after starting the job. Jared Holter replied that the city's contract documents include workmanship expectations and that many projects are bid as itemized contracts; he said, “...any change orders of significance come back through the Board of Public Works, and the council does approve them.”
Council voted to approve the award; the motion passed 6-0.
Why it matters: the low bid reduces the city's near-term cost for the repair but raised questions about contractor capacity to meet the expedited timeline; staff said past work by BKC on local projects informed confidence in the recommendation.
Next steps: the contract will proceed to contracting, with any significant change orders requiring Board of Public Works and council approval.
