PRESCOTT – The Prescott City Council awarded the bid for the Elm and Washington Street reconstruction project to the lowest bidder Total Excavating LLC in River Falls for $2,134,017 at the March 11 meeting.

Greg Adams, engineer at Cedar Corporation, said the city received five competitive bids.

“We bid a lot of projects and we are actually seeing a drop almost every week,” Adams said, adding that bids are becoming more competitive. “We’ve had excellent history with Total Excavating.”

They completed the Lake Street and Pearl Street projects in 2020.

City Administrator Matt Wolf said, “When we were planning and we borrowed for this project, we borrowed for both Locust, Elm and Washington Street all at the same time.”

The council approved the water aid study to go before the Public Service Commission and in order to lower or keep water rates as low as possible, the plan is to take American Rescue Plan Act funds and put them towards the water portion.

“The resolution we have before you tonight does have those funds that we have currently paying for the water portion of this project as $397, 460,” Wolf said.

The council approved the contract for Construction Engineering Services by Cedar Corporation for the Elm and Washington Street Project in the amount of $157,650. The contract includes all construction engineering such as staking, full time observation, change order administration and record drawings.

“But a big part is the full-time observation out there and the construction staking services and that project total is $157,650 for those services,” Adams said.

Moving quickly, the council approved plans and specifications and authorized the ad for bid for the 2024 Mill and Overlay Project. Wolf said within the Capital Improvement Plan for 2023 to 2030 calls for improvements on Cherry Street at a cost of $165,000 and on Monroe Street for mill and overlay at an estimated cost of $225,300. City staff requested the council’s approval for the specs and plans for the 2024 Mill and Overlay Project to go out to bid.

“Unfortunately, Cherry Street and Monroe Street both are right around two inches. So, what’s being proposed then is a complete mill of the two inches and then pavement about three inches so that will give us the .5-inch pavement above the curb and that will allow for protection of the curb, manholes, water valves and other structures that are within the street,” Wolf said.

The ad will run March 20 and 27 with bids being opened at 10 a.m. April 3; the lowest bid will be brought before the council at its next meeting. Public Works will also be making storm sewer repairs to the streets and sidewalks will be widened on Cherry Street.

Lot division

City Planner Carter Hayes said the owner of 374 Monroe St. is asking to subdivide Lot 2, Block F Fowler’s Addition, into two lots. The owner has plans to construct a new home on Lot 5 which would be assigned as 715 Washington St. The new lot would have an accessory structure on it but lacks a principal structure, which violates city code. The owner has submitted plans to construct a principal structure on the property as soon as the lot is divided. 

“We deemed it an acceptable timeline to allow for compliance,” said Hayes.

The Plan Commission recommended that council approve the CSM with the condition that it be nullified if construction work does not occur within one year of approval.
Alderperson Maureen Otwell asked if the accessory structure would remain or be moved away as part of the new construction. Hayes said the owner wishes to retain the accessory structure on the new lot. The council approved the subdivision of Lot 2.

Compost site

As part of the 2024 budget, $65,957 was allocated into the Capital Fund for improvements at the compost site.

“One of the things that we get many requests for is an increased amount of hours,” Wolf said.

The city looked into options to keep the compost site open seven days a week 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The goals would include working with HeyGov and Park Connect for a self-service gate system which would bring heightened security, a wider range of operating hours, and improved management and success.

As the Council motioned to approve, Otwell interjected, “I saw in here that they are developing software that would give individual codes to individuals. Would we be switching to that as soon as they get it developed?” she asked.

 “It will be a rolling change to it,” Ruona told her.

Public comment

As the mayor opened the meeting to public comment, a resident residing on Gibbs Street spoke.

“I’m here tonight to ask the council to consider placing stop signs on Orange Street,” the four-year Prescott resident said.

He asked for stop signs at Orange and Elm next to the Intermediate School and at Orange and Young streets. He has seen an increase of people speeding on Orange Street for the past four years and has repeatedly discussed it with city personnel and the Chief of Police. He is concerned for the residents and young children living there.

“Just want to see things slow down. Don’t want kids to get hurt. My concern is that someone is going to get hit eventually,” he said.

Wolf also updated the council on the previously approved lease agreement between the city and BNSF Railway for office space at the police station. He said the railroad is no longer interested in moving forward with the lease.