Underwood council awards $249,900 electric contract, approves wastewater payments amid 4-1 split

The Underwood City Council voted Oct. 14 to award K and W Electric, Inc. a $249,900 contract to install an electric line crossing under the railroad and approved substantial payments and a change order for the city's wastewater treatment upgrade.

Mayor Dennis Bardsley presided over the meeting. By roll call the council adopted Resolution 25-10-01 to approve the electric line contract; the vote was unanimous (5-0). The minutes list the contractor and the contract amount but do not detail the construction schedule beyond the contract award.

Council also approved partial pay application #4 to McCarthy Trenching for $279,062.50 for work on the wastewater treatment plant upgrade. The pay application passed 4-1, with Council member Kelle Erwin voting nay. In the same matter the council approved change order #1 to McCarthy Trenching for $29,318.48; that motion also passed 4-1 with Erwin voting against the change order.

Council members discussed bids for paving and approved a separate contract with Zimmerman Sales and Service for $33,446.50 to pave 3rd Avenue (from north of 3rd Street to the alley). The work is to be completed by May 31, 2026. That motion passed 4-0 with Erwin recorded as abstaining.

The wastewater payments and change order increase amounts the city will pay McCarthy Trenching in the near term; the minutes do not include additional explanatory detail about the nature of the change order or the specific work covered. The council did not record further explanation in the minutes beyond the motions and votes.

Next steps recorded in the minutes are standard contract administration: adopted resolutions and approved payments will be processed per city procedure and project oversight continues through the city's engineer and construction inspector.