Underwood council authorizes bid letting for Highway Avenue reconstruction

The Underwood City Council voted unanimously July 10 to authorize bid letting for the Highway Avenue Reconstruction Project by adopting Resolution 24-07-01.

Council discussion described a plan to lower portions of the road to improve driveway drainage, staged in three phases with contractor availability expected in late May. Council members said the rebuilt roadway would maintain a single slope near the current grade, with some sections excavated about 6 inches. One culvert (described as a “tube”) will be removed while others in the roadside ditch will remain. Engineers plan to include fly ash in the road base to address water‑saturated soil conditions.

The motion to adopt the resolution was made by Councilmember Madsen and seconded by Councilmember Pingel. A roll call vote recorded Tiarks, Pingel, Erwin and Madsen voting yes, with Councilmember Bose absent; the resolution passed 4-0.

The council did not award contracts at the meeting; the resolution authorizes staff to proceed with soliciting bids. The timeline discussed—three construction phases and contractor availability—will be part of bid specifications and is subject to the bids received and subsequent contract approvals. The council did not provide a construction start date beyond the stated contractor availability window or a construction cost estimate at the meeting.

The record shows Mason Goergen left the meeting during this agenda item. The next formal step is bid solicitation under the adopted resolution; no contract award or construction contract was approved at the July 10 meeting.