Summary
The Leelanau County Board of Commissioners held a Special Session on October 15, 2024, chaired by Ty Wessell, to decide on the Leland Dam Walkway and Railing Project. After discussion of bid options presented by Interim Administrator Lewis and comments from Drain Commissioner Steve Christensen, the Board voted to accept the low base bid from Easling Construction using Ipe product for $108,646.00, with funds transferred from the General Fund Contingency to Fund #805.
Public Comments
No public comments were made during either public comment period of this meeting.
Infrastructure Projects
The sole agenda item was the Leland Dam Walkway and Railing Project. Interim Administrator Lewis explained the objective was to replace the Leland Dam Bridge using durable, low-maintenance materials: Ipe, Thermally Modified Ash, or Treated SYP. He outlined three bid options and a possible fourth:
- Option 1: Accept the low base bid from Easling Construction (Ipe product, South American, not sustainable).
- Option 2: Accept the low Alternative #1 bid from Fisher Contracting (Thermally Modified Ash, North American, sustainable).
- Option 3: Reject all bids and rebid the project allowing a combination of materials or other sole-source wood products.
- Option 4: Accept a modified Alternative #1 bid from Easling Construction using a mixture of Ipe and Thermally Modified Ash.
Drain Commissioner Steve Christensen stated his preference for using Fisher Contracting. Commissioner Lautner moved to accept the Easling Construction bid for the Ipe product at $108,646.00, with funds transferred from the General Fund Contingency to Fund #805, seconded by Rexroat. A motion to call the question by Commissioner O’Rourke, seconded by Rexroat, failed 3-3 (Ayes: Lautner, O’Rourke, Rexroat; Noes: Allgaier, Ross, Wessell). After further discussion, the original motion was repeated and passed 4-2 (Ayes: Lautner, O’Rourke, Rexroat, Wessell; Noes: Ross, Allgaier). Motion carried.
Financial Summary
The Board approved a $108,646.00 expenditure to Easling Construction for the Leland Dam Walkway and Railing Project, using the Ipe product. Funding will be transferred from the General Fund Contingency to Fund #805.
Action Items
Funds must be transferred from the General Fund Contingency to Fund #805 to complete payment to Easling Construction for the approved project.