Blaine splits Meadowbrook road project after bids come in over budget
The first phase of Blaine’s Meadowbrook Area street reconstruction project will move forward this year after bids came in higher than the city had budgeted for the full project.
The Blaine City Council voted 5-1 May 4 to award a nearly $1.6 million contract to North Valley Inc. of Nowthen for the first phase of the project. Council Member Jess Robertson voted against the contract.
Director of Engineering Dan Schluender said the council approved plans and specifications for the project in March before it was put out for bid.
The project includes the Meadowbrook neighborhood, which contains Jackson Street and 126th Lane. Because the total project cost came in higher than budgeted, staff recommended splitting the work into two phases, Schluender said.
The first phase includes 126th Avenue from Madison to Jackson and Jackson from 126th to 127th. The area west toward Jefferson Street is also included in the first phase.
The city received six bids April 23. North Valley submitted the low bid at $1,597,964.01.
With a 10% contingency, the project budget is about $1.7 million, Schluender said. Funding will come from pavement management, public utility funds and special assessments.
Robertson said she supported infrastructure as one of the city’s core responsibilities, along with public safety and public works, but was frustrated that the project was over budget.
“I am not placing blame … I am not arguing the merits of the project,” Robertson said. “But we need to figure out how to better assess when, in previous budget years, project totals are being put into that capital improvement fund, and we’re already accounting for those.”
Robertson said the city needs a broader conversation about infrastructure cost estimates, noting that about $500,000 of the first-phase cost was for consulting before road construction began.
“I get the market’s changed … I’m absolutely fine with that, but again, if this was a one off, I probably wouldn’t have even said anything,” Robertson said. “But there’s been multiple projects now where we’ve either had to come back and split projects, or find different ways to fund them.”
In other business
The Blaine City Council also unanimously approved a conditional use permit allowing Dart Portable Storage to store containers outside at 8600 Rendova St. NE.
The 6-0 vote came with Council Member Terra Fleming absent.
Community Development Director Sheila Sellman said the property is in a heavy industrial area, with heavy industrial zoning to the east and west and light industrial zoning to the north.
Under the site plan, portable storage containers will be stored on the west side and rear of the property. The containers will be stacked two high in a 1.68-acre area. Sellman said the site meets setback requirements, including a 10-foot parking setback to the north and west.
Council Member Tom Newland said the location was the “perfect spot” for outdoor storage because it is “well off the beaten path.”
“It fits perfectly fine with the surrounding area, and therefore I am very supportive of it,” Newland said.