MINOT—The City of Minot awarded bids for two major projects at the Dec. 20 City Council meeting, with both projects going to Rolac Construction.
Rolac was the lowest single prime bidder at approximately $8.395 million for the City Hall rehabilitation project, about 15 percent higher than the estimated $7.294 million. After adding costs for four alternatives, project soft costs, and a 5 percent contingency, the total cost of the project is approximately $15.749 million. That total is roughly $1.9 million higher than original estimates.
“I’m glad that we are at this point. We have a reasonable proposal in front of us, and I believe this is something that we need to continue to move forward with,” Alderwoman Lisa Olson said. “Sometimes delaying these decisions only costs us more, and I think this is something that is so important to the City of Minot that we need to move forward.”
After awarding the bid to Rolac, the Council also approved a $2 million budget amendment to help fund the project. City Manager Harold Stewart said the additional funding will come from the City’s general fund reserves, which is money that has already been collected.
The City Hall rehabilitation project will also use $7.75 million in funding from the National Disaster Resilience program.
Rolac was also the low bidder for the recycling transfer facility at $4.177 million, above the estimate of $3.55 million. Funding will come from sanitation reserves and sales tax cash reserves.
By awarding the transfer facility bid, the council set in motion the steps to implement a curbside recycling program.
“With approval of this item tonight, we are saying yes to recycling,” Olson said. “There’s a lot of support, and we get emails every week from supporters. We also know there are some who are not in favor.”
Olson asked Assistant Public Works Director Jason Sorenson if City sanitation customers would still have the option to opt out of recycling services when the program is operational.
“Yes,” Sorenson said. “The opt out has always been on the table. I think that’s the fairest way to do it so people who don’t want to participate don’t have to participate.”
Alderman Mark Jantzer was happy to see the recycling issue finally come to a resolution.
“This discussion has gone on for a long time,” he said. “The thought process was to go to automated pickup, and then beyond that, to a recycling component that would be added. I think it’s important to note that this is a service that many people in the community feel is needed.”
