MONROE - A construction contractor submitting the lowest bid for the city's 2013 utility improvements project and potentially being awarded the $600,000 contract wants to begin the project as soon as possible this fall.
But city officials want the project to begin early in the spring of 2014. Beginning it now, they say, would not give them enough time to repair the streets before winter weather sets in.
The City of Monroe Common Council was set to award the contract to S&L Underground and Trucking Inc. of Merrimac for $592,700 at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 15.
According to City Administrator Phil Rath, as of late Tuesday afternoon, S&L was balking at the late starting date. The company has the manpower and equipment ready to go now, Rath said.
Al Gerber, Monroe's Engineering Department supervisor, said he was unable to find an actual starting date in the bid package during a quick review just before the council met. An addendum had been added to have the project completed by July 1, 2014.
A third-party, professional services firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. of Madison, was in charge of bidding process.
Rath and City Attorney Rex Ewald recommended the council postpone awarding the contract until its next meeting. The council voted unanimously to postpone the vote.
Ewald informed the council that the contractor may have a legal right to start the work this fall, although the city could reject all bids and ask for the project to be rebid with a start date stipulated.
The city has 60 days to award this contract on the current bids. Four bids received for the project were opened Oct. 4. The bids ranged from $592,710 to $698,568. Other companies bidding for the project were E&N Hughes Company, Inc., Monroe; Fischer Excavating, Inc., Freeport; and Advanced Construction, Inc., Green Bay.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 14, to recommend the council award the contract to S&L Underground and Trucking Inc.
The project includes sanitary sewer and water mains, manholes, fire hydrants, walk, curb and gutter along several sections of four streets in the east central area of the city.
But city officials want the project to begin early in the spring of 2014. Beginning it now, they say, would not give them enough time to repair the streets before winter weather sets in.
The City of Monroe Common Council was set to award the contract to S&L Underground and Trucking Inc. of Merrimac for $592,700 at its meeting Tuesday, Oct. 15.
According to City Administrator Phil Rath, as of late Tuesday afternoon, S&L was balking at the late starting date. The company has the manpower and equipment ready to go now, Rath said.
Al Gerber, Monroe's Engineering Department supervisor, said he was unable to find an actual starting date in the bid package during a quick review just before the council met. An addendum had been added to have the project completed by July 1, 2014.
A third-party, professional services firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. of Madison, was in charge of bidding process.
Rath and City Attorney Rex Ewald recommended the council postpone awarding the contract until its next meeting. The council voted unanimously to postpone the vote.
Ewald informed the council that the contractor may have a legal right to start the work this fall, although the city could reject all bids and ask for the project to be rebid with a start date stipulated.
The city has 60 days to award this contract on the current bids. Four bids received for the project were opened Oct. 4. The bids ranged from $592,710 to $698,568. Other companies bidding for the project were E&N Hughes Company, Inc., Monroe; Fischer Excavating, Inc., Freeport; and Advanced Construction, Inc., Green Bay.
The Board of Public Works voted unanimously Monday, Oct. 14, to recommend the council award the contract to S&L Underground and Trucking Inc.
The project includes sanitary sewer and water mains, manholes, fire hydrants, walk, curb and gutter along several sections of four streets in the east central area of the city.