Brainerd utilities commission awards two alley service-line contracts, authorizes bids for larger 2026 projects

The Brainerd Public Utilities Commission on April 17 approved two construction agreements for galvanized water-service line replacements in the alley between South 6th and South 7th streets and authorized staff to solicit bids on two larger 2026 service-replacement projects.

Mr. Sandy, presenting staff recommendations, said the city solicited quotes for the alley projects and received bids from “Tredder Excavating and Dechantel Excavating,” and that “Tredder Excavating was the apparent low quote at a total construction cost of $65,000” to replace five galvanized services in the north block. Commissioners then moved, seconded and approved the award by roll call.

For the south block — between Ronald Street and Paul Street — Mr. Sandy said eight galvanized services were identified and that the apparent low bid was $92,000 from the same contractor. The commission voted to approve that award as well.

Commissioners also voted to authorize staff to solicit bids for two larger 2026 galvanized service-line replacement projects. Paul (staff) described project number one, labeled “Northeast Brainerd phase one,” covering service-line work on Gillis Avenue, First Avenue Northeast and Second Avenue Northeast, and project number two tied to the city’s 2026 street reconstruction and resurfacing program. Paul said Bolton & Menk completed final plans and specifications and submitted them to the Minnesota Department of Health; staff proposed opening bids on May 12, 2026, and returning award recommendations to the commission at its May meeting.

Paul put the city’s near-term funding picture in context: he said the 2023 state legislative appropriation of $250 million to public water systems for galvanized service replacements — matched by federal IIJA funds in part — produced an allocation that put Brainerd on the Minnesota Department of Health’s project-priority list. He said Brainerd’s allocation for the year was $2.675 million and that, together with the two contracts just awarded and the two staff estimates, the total was “right around $2.4 million.” Paul described the reimbursement process through the Public Facilities Authority (PFA), noting staff submits pay-voucher applications and typically receives reimbursement within about 30–45 days.

On construction practices and oversight, Paul said the alley projects were quoted as lump-sum per service and that, because of hard surfacing and constrained corridors, staff expects contractors to use directional drilling where possible to minimize disturbance. He also said Bolton & Menk is under contract to provide construction observation for the projects and that city staff will continue outreach to property owners to complete necessary agreements.

All three commission actions in the meeting record were approved by roll call. The commission’s next formal step on the larger projects is to open bids on May 12 and return with award recommendations at the May meeting.

Notes on transcript variants: the contractor name appears in the transcript as both “Tredder” and “Tretter” (the article uses the most frequent spelling from the record, “Tredder Excavating,” and flags the name for confirmation with procurement documents). Several commissioner surnames are spelled inconsistently in the transcript; vote records in this article reflect the names as recorded at each roll call.