Council adopts resolution to proceed with assessments after Clearwater Road bids come in higher than feasibility estimate

Public works and administration staff briefed the Baxter City Council on recent bid results for the 2026 Clearwater Road/North Bendel area utility improvements and recommended moving the assessment process forward despite a significant gap between the feasibility estimate and low bid results.

Staff said bids opened March 10 and the apparent low bidder, Carl Larson, submitted $6,300,000 — an amount substantially higher than the feasibility report. The staff presentation identified primary drivers of the increase: dewatering cost estimates rose from roughly $250,000 in the feasibility report to bids above $800,000 for dewatering alone; lift station scope additions added roughly $100,000–$130,000; and additional engineering incurred about $125,000. Staff and the RCA packet quantified the overall gap in the range of roughly $1,010,000–$1,120,000 compared with feasibility.

Staff discussed options including rebidding, scaling back scope and waiting for a different bidding climate; they said rebidding is unlikely to produce better results without changes to the project or timing. One council member said the project covers a large service area and urged moving forward to get the work done. Council member (speaker 10) moved to adopt Resolution 2026‑024 to prepare proposed assessments for the project; the transcript records the council vote with four recorded 'aye' responses and the mayor announcing the motion carries.

What happens next: staff will set the assessment hearing (Resolution 2026‑025 was discussed to set a hearing date) and proceed toward awarding the construction contract after the hearing and assessment adoption. The transcript does not show the assessment hearing outcome in the provided segments.

Vote (as recorded in transcript): motion to adopt Resolution 2026‑024 — recorded 'Aye' by four members; mayor announced 'Motion carries.'