Council awards contract to drill municipal wells 8 and 9 to Trout Companies after single bid

The Minnetrista City Council adopted a resolution May 20 to accept the bid and award a contract for municipal wells 8 and 9 to Trout Companies.

Staff said a mandatory pre‑bid conference was held to explain the project's complexity and timelines; three contractors attended but only Trout Companies submitted a responsive proposal. Trout offered an alternate to complete drilling and associated work by May 31, 2025, and the bid included a contingency ($38,840) to add a well screen if post‑drilling tests indicate it is required. Staff recommended awarding the contract to Trout; council approved resolution #4324 by voice vote.

Council members asked whether a single bid was permissible after a competitive solicitation. Legal counsel confirmed the project was competitively bid and that receiving a single bid is acceptable; staff said the Trout bid was below the engineer’s projected price and the company can meet scheduling needs.

The council’s action authorizes the city to proceed with contracting and drilling; staff will complete testing after drilling to determine whether the contingency screen is needed.