Waukon City Council discusses infrastructure within West Side Development, awarding of loan funding for new fire station

by Bob Beach

The Waukon City Council began its regular meeting Monday, October 6 with a discussion of the bids received for the installation of water and sewer, curb and gutter and a gravel road  in the West Side Development area on the west edge of Waukon. There were only two bidders on the project - Skyline Construction of Decorah submitted the low bid of $259,438.69, and Baker Concrete and Excavating of Waverly bid $269,124.50. Lyle TeKippe, the project engineer, had estimated the project cost at $198,562.50.
Jesse Delaney of Skyline Construction said that Skyline had submitted a competitive bid and that TeKippe's estimate of the project cost was too low because some of the material costs used in his estimate were lower than the actual cost. TeKippe noted that some prices have gone up since the estimate was calculated, adding that he has noticed a trend lately of project bids coming in higher than the estimated costs.
Waukon Mayor Loren Beneke suggested that the Finance Committee or the full council should meet in special session to discuss project priorities and financing options. City Attorney Jim Garrett reminded the Council that the City has made a commitment to the school district to have water and sewer services installed by December 1, at least for the first lot being used by the district for its home construction class. The Council voted to table any decision on the project bids until a determination could be made regarding funds available for the project.

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