Mantorville council tables award of lift‑station bid after error in low bid

At a special meeting Sept. 22, 2025, the City of Mantorville City Council voted 4-0 to table Resolution 2025-33, which would have awarded the CSAH Lift Station Project at Eagle Meadows, after the clerk reported an error in the apparent low bid.

City Clerk-Treasurer Gretchen Lohrbach told the council that bids were received, opened and tabulated pursuant to the advertisement and that there was an error in the bid from DeCook Excavating, Inc.; she said she would consult with the city attorney about next steps and whether the project should be rebid. Councilmember Lynnette Nash moved to table the resolution; Councilmember Lyle Hoaglund seconded. The motion carried with four yes votes and no nays. Councilmembers present were Nash, Hoaglund and Kim Boyum; Mayor Jeff Ingalls voted in favor as well. Councilmember Jim Potter was absent.

The meeting record lists the bidders and their amounts: DeCook Excavating, Inc. of Byron, MN — $802,853.00; GM Contracting, Inc. — $1,007,383.81; Holtmeier Construction, Inc. — $1,063,571.63; Pember Companies, Inc. — $1,149,425.00; R & R Excavating, Inc. — $1,272,159.91; Heselton Construction, LLC — $1,311,342.00; SL Contracting, Inc. — $1,497,930.00. The minutes indicate only that an error exists in the DeCook bid; the exact nature of the error was not specified in the record.

By tabling the resolution, the council postponed final award of the contract until the clerk consults the city attorney and the matter returns to a future meeting. No formal decision was recorded on whether the project will be rebid or whether the remaining bids will be re-evaluated.