Public works staff recommends low bid for culvert at new facility; permits still pending

Public works staff invited to speak (identified in the transcript as Mr. Bordon) reported that the city opened bids for a box culvert serving the new public works facility at 810 Northwoods Boulevard. "We opened bids for the new culvert … we had 16 contractors attend the mandatory pre-bid meeting and we had five bids we actually did receive for this work," Mr. Bordon said, and he reported that bids in the transcript ranged widely and that the engineer's estimate was $426,362.50.

Mr. Bordon described the work as installation of "a box culvert 14 ft by 4 foot on the north side of the parcel" to provide primary access to the construction site and future operations. He said the culvert crosses an active stream classified in the transcript as waters of the United States and crosses a FEMA-mapped floodplain and floodway, meaning the city must obtain Army Corps and FEMA permits before construction may begin. Staff said no construction will start until permits are issued and that lead time is required to manufacture the box culvert.

Based on the bids received, Mr. Bordon recommended awarding the contract to the lowest bidder listed in the transcript as Filillmore Construction LLC of Leburg, Ohio in the amount shown in the meeting record ($38,666). Council members asked why that bid was so much lower than others and why the contractor's completion days (67 in the record) differed from other bidders (about 150 days); staff said their consultant (WDC Group and subconsultant Choice One Engineering) had previously worked with the bidder and confirmed the schedule appeared to include manufacturing time.

The study-session transcript records staff recommendation and council questions but does not show a final council award vote on the contract.