Contractor hired to prepare new housing project
The City of Minneota received eight bids for the proposed construction work for the Gorecki Addition. The low bid was accepted from Duininck Inc. of Prinsburg in the amount of $598,656.75.
The engineer’s estimate was approximately $635,235, therefore the low bid was approximately six percent below the estimate.
“A combination of a competitive bidding environment, an ideal project and a local contractor likely contributed to the high number of bids and low pricings,” said Trent Bruce of DGR Engineering of Sioux Falls.
The Gorecki Addition, which lies on Monroe Street, will involve development of two cul-de-sacs and housing for single home dwellings and twin homes.
There is room for seven lots in one and six in the other cul-de-sac areas. Duininck Inc. recently did the Adams Street project in Minneota.
“They are a known entity to us,” said Engineer Bruce. He expects the work to begin in mid-April but does not have a firm date at this time. Above this amount will be engineering fees, utility fees and private utilities.
“There is always the unknown,” said Bruce, suggesting the best idea is to expect five percent extra on the project. He suggested the city budget for $750,000.
“I’m guessing it will be less than that,” said Bruce. “I would guess your expenses are going to be at least $700,000.”
“It does have an August 31 completion day, which should allow houses to be build this fall, depending on the sale of lots,” said Bruce. The construction work will include drainage and utility work plus establishment of the cul-de-sacs. Borings were recently taken and, “Nothing was found so it’s a pretty good indication things should go well out there,” said Bruce. “The sewer is going to be deep out there to maximize the possibility for future development,” the engineer said.
“We have a 110-foot corner lot and the other lots are 100-feet wide,” said Bruce.
“That’s a pretty normal size lot these days. If you have buyers who want larger lots, now would be the time to do that,” said the city’s engineer.
The city has a rebate program to help sell the lots and it will include building within a year of the purchase of the lot.
The council also approved the preliminary plat for the Gorecki addition.
IN OTHER action the board:
•Noted The City of Taunton has asked the City of Minneota if they are interested in doing the mosquito spraying in Taunton. The council talked about having the necessary insurance needed to spray in Taunton.
The City of Minneota has purchased equipment to do their own spraying in Minneota this summer. Possibility of liability issues, insurance coverage and cost doing another communities spraying are all questions the city did not have answers for at this time.
“We don’t even know how easy this will be for our guys to do. They haven’t even operated it yet,” said Mayor John Rolbiecki.
The council decided to operate just in Minneota this summer “to get our feet wet” before expanding to help other communities.
•Was informed by Police Chief Bill Bolt that several criminal cases are moving through the court system. “The most recent includes assaults, disorderly conduct and tampering with motor vehicles.
The burglary case from last year involving three local businesses has been charged and is in the court system.
Some cases are resolved quickly while others can take more than a year to finalize.
•Heard, “We have a lot of people upset about water. With heavy snows, etc. there are a lot of problems,” said City Administrator Shirley Teigland. One of the areas of concern is on Century Drive.
•Noted Lyon County has plans for a proposed grading project on Lyon County Road 3 between the north side of the City of Minneota and the Yellow Medicine County line. The project will be completed during the summer of 2018.
The plans for the grading project are currently about 70 percent complete, said Andy Hopp, Senior Engineering Technician for the Lyon County Highway Department.
•Noted the local board of appeals will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, April 9 at the Minneota City Hall.