Two long-discussed infrastructure projects have been granted notice to proceed after the city council in Wessington Springs reviewed bids in the regular November 6 meeting and a special meeting held November 13.
Both projects address utility and street improvements on College Avenue and 2nd Street and both received six bids.
During the November 6 meeting, engineers for both projects were present to make recommendations and discuss options.
College Avenue Project
During the bid review on November 6, Jeff McCormick of SPN & Associates shared that two of the six received bids were below the engineer’s estimate. The project low bid was submitted by Menning Excavating from Mitchell. The bid came in $317,466.02 under the 2022 bid received from Dahme Construction.
“Looking at last year’s bid, it was definitely a good decision to rebid,” McCormick told the council. “Two options include $952,261.70 with a blotter surface option and $1,042,331.20 with an asphalt surface option that still leaves a total project contingency of 19%.”
During discussion with McCormick about whether to take the blotter or surfacing option, McCormick pointed out that asphalt is “better to patch and more friendly in the future.”
Among the oldest water mains in Wessington Springs, the stretch of water main originating from the water treatment plant to 2nd Street along College Avenue is cast iron likely installed sometime in the 1910s-1930s. Replacing these mains are included in the project, as well as new sewer to replace the old, clay sewer lines.
Also included in the project scope is new curb/gutter and asphalt. Councilman Tim Schooler made the motion to award the bid to Manning Excavating with the asphalt option with Ryan Knipfer seconding the motion.
2nd Avenue Project
In the same meeitng, Brad Lawrence representing Brosz Engineering met with the council to present and review the bids received for the 2nd Street Project. His recomendation was to go with the low bid submitted by H&W Contracting with surfacing alternate B. The bid with surfacing alternate A, asphalt, came in at $1,779,850.50, Alternate B, Otta Seal, is $1,402,993.00.
“This surfacing, Otta Seal has the strength of asphalt without having to put oil in it. There are studies that show it holds up as well as asphalt but is not as expensive. The upcharge for regular asphalt is more than $376,000. The problem is that with the funding that’s available, going with asphalt doesn’t leave room for contingency,” Lawrence explained to the council. “The average person thinks asphalt is the only thing that works... nothing else is as smooth and shiny and black. And yes, public acceptance is a big thing. But money is an issue.”
Lawrence continued, “Because the school is on that road, the contractors have a short window. So the risk is bid into it because they know there is penalty in there. You’re bidding time, you’re bidding risk.”
Councilman Tim Schooler raised questions about Otta Seal’s design life compared to asphalt and asked for examples of where it has been applied successfully in the region. Lawrence cited a project in Pierre that was installed fifteen years ago and has been very successful. After lengthy discussion amongst the council, the bid award was tabled until more study on Otta Seal could be conducted.
Considered a vital thoroughfare in Wessington Springs that provides access to both schools, the hospital and nursing home, discussion of a 2nd Street renovation has been on the table for over five years. The scope includes replacing 1300 water main feet and 700 feet of sewer, curb and gutter repair and a portion of new curb and gutter along with street surfacing, which continued to be discussed at the November 13 special meeting.
November 13 Special Meeting
Lawrence and colleague Ron Gillen returned to discuss the surfacing alternate B. Since the previous meeting, Councilman Tim Schooler conducted extensive research on Otta Seal application with contacts from Minnesota and Iowa.
“To look at it, it’s different than asphalt and what I keep hearing is that all the strength comes from the sub-base. If we don’t get that right it won’t hold up,” Schooler said.
Gillen agreed with Schooler and went on to continue in-depth discussion with the council about each level of the application from soil compaction up, pointing out that special attention would be paid to the areas on 2nd deemed “problem areas.”
“Once construction starts, we will be taking a close look at the sub material in those problem areas,” he said.
After further discussing the Otta Seal surfacing option and with asphalt surfacing out of the city’s budget, the council voted to approve the recommended bid with surfacing alternate B.
Next steps for both projects include submitting bid information to South Dakota Department of Agriculture & Natural Resources for bid approval.
