Lakefield selects apparent low bidder for 2026 street and utility project; assessment hearing set for June 8

The Lakefield City Council on May 4 received and tabulated bids for the 2026 Street & Utility Improvement Project and identified M.R. Paving and Excavating of New Ulm as the apparent low bidder with a base bid of $3,693,516.25. Council approved Resolution 26-12 to receive the bids and approved Resolution 26-13 to call a public hearing on proposed assessments for June 8, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in Lakefield City Hall.

Engineer Brent Kavitz told the council alternate bids came in near the engineer’s estimate of $80,000 for water-main replacement. The council packet lists an estimated final contract price of $4,523,602.67 and an estimated final total project cost of $5,551,694.18. The city declared a city-funded portion of $4,774,145.10 and a portion to be assessed to benefited property owners of $777,549.08; assessments are proposed to be payable in equal annual installments over 20 years with interest not to exceed 5.00 percent per annum, the first installment due on or before the first Monday in January 2028.

Council also approved a supplemental letter with SEH to provide Phase 3 construction services — construction administration, construction staking, record drawings and construction observation — with a not-to-exceed fee of $553,600, including expenses and equipment, to support the city through contract administration and project closeout. The supplemental authorization is intended to coordinate contractor payment requests, staking and field support and to produce final record drawings.

The June 8 hearing will allow property owners to comment on the proposed assessments before certification to the County Auditor-Treasurer. The council took the motions by voice vote; both resolutions and the SEH authorization carried.