Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Works topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Keokuk awards Grand Avenue reconstruction contract amid council questions over engineering fees
Summary
Council accepted the low bid for Grand Avenue reconstruction (North 17th St. to Boulevard Road) and approved contract award; a council member raised concerns about paying outside firms for street assessments and flagged engineering fees roughly in the $120,000 range for design and construction management.
Keokuk City Council voted May 15 to award the Grand Avenue reconstruction contract for the project stretching from North 17th Street to Boulevard Road after staff presented bid results.
Staff said bids were received March 26 for alternatives (asphalt and concrete) and identified a low concrete bid from Jones Contracting Corp. of West Point, Iowa. The amount recorded in the meeting transcript appears as “$796,98.50” (amount unclear in the transcript); the engineer’s cost estimate for the project was $1,250,000. Staff recommended award to the low bidder and council approved the resolution to proceed.
During discussion, a council member who had voted against the project at an earlier workshop explained she changed her vote but reiterated concerns about the process and transparency of engineering costs. She asked for documentation showing the engineering firm’s invoice and change order proposals; staff replied the final engineering numbers would be presented to council after awarding the construction contract. Council discussion placed the total engineering fees (design and construction management combined) “in the neighborhood of the $120,000 range,” according to the record.
The council member also questioned why the city used outside firms for pavement evaluations when in‑house staff (street, police, fire departments) have local knowledge. Staff said additional construction management costs will come forward for council consideration later in the process.
Council approved the award by voice vote. Staff said construction management work would be brought to council once construction contracts are awarded.
