Alma City Council approves one-and-six-year street plan, awards South Street lift station contract

At its Nov. 19 meeting the Alma City Council approved the city's One & Six Year Street Improvement Plan and awarded a $473,383.50 contract for the South Street lift station.

Lewis Hyatt of Miller & Associates presented a map and the plan during a public hearing, reporting the city's projected 2026 allocation in the record as 1811994. Hyatt told the council six bids were received for the South Street lift station; the engineer's opinion of probable cost was listed in the record as $550,000 and the low bid from Philip Carkoski Construction and Trenching, Inc. was $473,383.50, about 13.93% below the engineer's estimate. The council voted to accept the low bid and award the contract.

Council Member Casper moved and Council Member Mahalek seconded to approve the One & Six Year Plan as presented; the motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. For the lift station contract, a motion by Joel Wheeler, seconded by Chris Mahalek, to hire Philip Carkoski Construction and Trenching, Inc. for $473,383.50 passed unanimously.

City Administrator Steve Ardiana later asked that oversight of the South Street lift station project be assigned to the City Administrator with involvement from Street/Sewer Superintendent Travis Dunse, City Superintendent Russell Pfeil and Miller & Associates. The council approved that oversight arrangement during the meeting.

The engineer's presentation also noted a possible future generator that could add cost to the project; the council did not take separate action on that item at the meeting.

The council's actions mean the street plan is adopted and the city has a contractor under a formally awarded contract for the lift station project. The council adjourned at about 6:40 p.m.