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Council approves $11.6M contract and revised overestimate for 143rd Street East after debate
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Summary
The Wichita City Council approved an amended budget and contract for 143rd Street East despite concerns about a single bidder and a higher-than-expected engineer's estimate; the measure passed 5— 2 after staff said coordination with a nearby KDOT project and excavation raised costs.
The Wichita City Council voted to approve a revised budget and authorize signatures for the 143rd Street East reconstruction project between Kellogg and Harry, carrying the item 5 to 2.
Council members debated the project after staff disclosed the engineer's earlier estimate and the lone bid situation. Mayor (speaker 1) noted that the engineer's estimate had been cited in discussion as about $8.4 million while the revised figure discussed during the meeting rose to roughly $14.2 million; council members flagged the difference and the fact only one contractor submitted a bid.
Paul (Public Works, speaker 7) told the council that limited contractor interest stemmed from schedule and coordination issues with the Kansas Department of Transportation's East Kellogg project and from the project's logistical challenges. "We had to...lower the roadway approximately 3 feet in some areas," he said, and added that excavation, safety barrier walls and added ITS conduit for future signal communications increased costs.
Josh (Purchasing, speaker 11) said procurement outreach used commodity codes and reached thousands of vendor contacts and that the bid reflects subcontracting arrangements among large regional firms; he said staff had considered rebidding but expected similar results given contractors' schedules.
Council member (speaker 13) moved to approve the revised budgets and adopt the amending resolution; speaker 6 seconded. The motion passed with five in favor and two opposed. The council recorded that the contract award listed by the Board of Bids and Contracts was to Wildcat Construction Company Inc. for $11,611,198.50, contingent on the new engineer's estimate and budget authorization that the council approved.
The council recorded that local sales tax would fund the overestimate; Mayor (speaker 1) stated it was the Sedgwick County 1% sales tax. Two council members voted no, citing the single-bidder outcome and the increased cost compared with earlier estimates. The council did not send the project back to rebid; instead it approved the revised budget and contract authorization.
