Competitive bid climate translates to taxpayer savings

City Hall renovations come in 15 percent under estimate

The Clear Lake City Council awarded a $1.14 million contract to King Construction, of Clear Lake, for the renovation of City Hall.  King was the lowest of eight bidders for the work.

“We had good, competitive bidding for the work,” said City Administrator Scott Flory reporting on the Jan. 14 bid opening. The

 base bid from King ($1,140,381) is roughly 15.3 percent below the architect’s estimate of $1,345,876 for the project.

Other bidders for the work (base bids) included: Dean Snyder Construction, $1,144,000; Henkel Construction, Mason City, 1,240,000; Larry Elwood Construction, Mason City, $1,320,000; Larson Contracting Central, Lake Mills, $1,322,240; Peterson Construction, Webster City, $1,327,300; Wagner Construction Company, Austin, Minn., $1,215,000; and Mohls Contracting, Owatonna, Minn., $1,375,000.

The project primarily involves the renovation of the vacant space within the building that was formerly occupied by the Clear Lake Fire Department prior to its relocation to its new fire station facility in the fall of 2012. The space will be renovated and remodeled, along with the rest of the police department for its use. 

The remainder of the building itself will be remodeled and brought up to current code standards. 

Approval of the project brought a smile-- and a story from Councilman Mike Callanan.

Callanan, who often provides the Council with bits of local history, recalled the tiny police station which the city once used at the lakefront spot now occupied by the Clear Lake Yacht Club.  The city outgrew its “Andy of Mayberry location” at the same time the fire department was seeking to move from its North 4th Street location where a portion of Clear Lake Bank and Trust now sits.  City leaders built the current - Read More Via e-Edition