Board of Public Works awards bid for W. Somo Ave., Marks St. project
By Jalen Maki
Tomahawk Leader Editor
TOMAHAWK – The City of Tomahawk Board of Public Works voted to award a bid for work on W. Somo Ave. and Marks St. during its meeting on Tuesday, March 29.
The City received four bids for the project, with Howard Bros. Inc.’s bid of $1,384,628.00 being the lowest and ultimately accepted by the board. Although the City had hoped that the cost of the project would come in at around $1.25 million, it was noted that due to increased prices of supplies and fuel, a slightly higher price tag was not unexpected.
The rehabilitation work on W. Somo Ave. will stretch from N. Tomahawk Ave. to the Tomahawk Railway Warehouse west of SARA Park, while Marks St., a dead-end street off of Leather Ave. west of N. 4th St., will see utility improvements.
Ruekert & Mielke, Inc., a firm that assists municipalities with infrastructure needs, suggested that the City include a 10% contingency fund when preparing the financial plan for the project to account for “unpredictable factors” that could potentially increase the contract amount. Board member Steve “Ding” Bartz recommended that the contingency fund be greater than 10%, pointing to possible issues with the cost and acquisition of materials.
The contract includes a mandatory completion date prior to Fall Ride in mid-September.
Following the board’s approval of the bid, the City’s Finance Committee and the City of Tomahawk Common Council will review financing for the project.
