Council approves airport bids

Posted

BROOKINGS – The Brookings City Council awarded a bid for work at the Brookings Regional Airport in a regular meeting Tuesday night.

The vote was 6-0. Councilor Nick Wendell was absent.

City Engineer Jackie Lanning explained the project, which includes reconstruction of the apron area and adjacent taxilanes, including grading, aggregate base course, storm sewer, asphalt paving and lighting.

The lone bid on the project was from Bowes Construction. They submitted a base bid of $2,221,457 and an alternate bid of $34,329 which is for city work related to the hangar and taxilane area, for a total of $2,255,787, Lanning said.

“The bid from Bowes Construction, Inc. is approximately 3% higher than the Helms and Associates engineer’s estimate of $2,190,806.50. The cost was due in part to higher granular and asphalt prices than what was estimated,” according to a memo by Lanning attached to the agenda, available on the city’s website.

“The total project cost, including construction, engineering and testing is estimated at $2,674,329.70, which is higher than the budget amount of $2,350,000,” according to her memo.

“We are anticipating a grant for that full amount, the $2.674 million,” Lanning said, which will be funded by 90% federal funds, 5% state funds, and 5% city funds. 

She was not recommending any change to the budget because the final cost might end up being less than the total grant amount.

Councilor Ope Niemeyer asked if Lanning or Mike Schmit, senior engineer/associate with Helms & Associates, anticipated any change orders coming out of the project.

“It’s a straight-forward project; we don’t see any foreseeable change orders,” Schmit said, adding there are some variables they try to prepare for, like soil tests or asphalt quantity. “We try to build some contingency within the project.”

He noted the city has done projects with his company before and those projects have generally underrun. Schmit foresees no big change orders to the project.

Alcohol licenses

The council approved an on-off sale malt license transfer from Den Wil Hospitality Group, Inc., also known as Mama Mia’s, Dennis Bielfeldt, owner, to Yessica’s Restaurant, Jessica Ardueda, owner, at 1300 Main Ave. S. in Brookings.

“A public hearing and action by the local governing body is required for all alcohol licenses. This license would be effective immediately, and then subject to an annual renewal. If approved, the application would be forwarded to the State Department of Revenue for final action and issuance of the license,” according to an attachment to the agenda.

Councilor Leah Brink abstained from the discussion.

The council voted 5-0 to approve the transfer.

The council also approved transferring a wine license from Den Wil Hospitality Group, Inc., also known as Mama Mia’s, Dennis Bielfeldt, owner, to Yessica’s Restaurant, Jessica Ardueda, owner, located at 1300 Main Ave. S. in Brookings.

“An operating agreement is required for wine licenses. This resolution allows the city manager to enter into the first five years of the 10-year agreement effective through 2024,” according to the attachment.

This license is also subject to an annual renewal.

The council approved the transfer 6-0.

Yessica’s Restaurant’s Facebook page says it serves Mexican and Italian food, and that it is open for business starting today.

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.