Chard gets 2010 street project bid

Patrick Fisher, Staff Writer

The New Prague City Council approved its 2010 street and utility improvement project at its Monday meeting. It awarded the project to Chard Tiling & Excavating, Inc., but not without some consideration.

On Friday, April 9, eight bids were opened. Chris Cavett of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., the city's engineering firm, noted the bids ranged from approximately $1.2 million to $1.6 million. The engineer's estimate for the project was about $1.3 million.

He explained it was discovered that K.A. Witt Con0struction Inc., which had the lowest bid, had apparently failed to submit an affidavit of non-collusion, a signed and notarized item required by all bidders.

New Prague City Administrator Mike Johnson contacted attorney Scott Riggs with Kennedy & Graven, the city's attorney for review and his legal opinion. Riggs' opinion was the bid should be considered non-responsive.

Johnson explained the difference between the bids from Witt Construction and Chard Tiling & Excavating was less than $300. He also contacted Witt Construction, but didn't receive a response from them.

Council member Ken Betterton asked if the bid was deemed incomplete, why was it listed?

Riggs said the bids were close enough that it had to be considered.

The council also approved Braun Intertec to do enginneering for this year's street improvement project. The company's bid of $17,453 was the lowest of the two received. It will perform engineering observations and testing services during site grading, utility installation and paving.

Presentation

Terri Heaton of Springsted, Inc., presented a plaque to the city recognizing it for its general obligation bond rising from A to AA- in the Standard & Poor's Rating Services. The change in the city's credit rating reflects well on the community. She noted the change isn't something that just happens, but takes years of hard work and working with its budget. The higher a credit rating the less a city has to pay in interest costs.

Johnson said the work with the city's budget began with his predecessor Jerry Bohnsack. He added all of the city's departments share in making the budget work.