The Carroll City Council voted last night (Monday) to move forward with proposed sanitary sewer extensions on the east side of Carroll, despite bids coming in nearly 25 percent over the initially estimated cost. Earlier this month, city officials approved a plan to annex an approximately 11-acre section of land surrounding the Choice Auto dealership on U.S. Highway 30. This project would provide sewer connections to the Rezac property and allow for future expansion eastward. However, Public Works Director, Randy Krauel, says the bids received last week were higher than anticipated.
Including project design and other fees, the total project cost for the base bid would be $407,000 and just under $615,000 for the base bid plus alternate. Krauel notes this project was not included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 budget, but a re-estimation for the current budget year showed a $530,000 surplus was available. City Manager, Mike Pogge-Weaver, says the property owner, Jim Rezac, has agreed to contribute $33,000 to the project through a connection fee, but the amount is not set in stone. He says the council does have the option to renegotiate those fees.
Ward Four Councilwoman, Carolyn Siemann, favored moving forward with the base bid and alternate as the cost to install infrastructure continues to increase. She does not anticipate it getting any cheaper in the coming years. Ward Three Councilman, Kyle Bauer, questioned how many properties could be served by the sewer for future expansion.
Bauer then moved to accept the base bid and alternate for $569,520 from King Construction, which was approved by the council on a 5-0 vote. Work on the sewer extension will begin later this year and is scheduled for completion by Aug. 31. Video from Monday’s meeting can be found included below.
