Marshalltown board awards Franklin Field parking-lot contract to Construct, Inc.

The Marshalltown Community School District board voted unanimously to award the Franklin Field parking lot base contract to Construct, Inc., after staff reported seven bids and recommended proceeding with the base bid only.

District staff reported the low base bid (Construct, Inc.) and a combined total that included a bid alternate for Brady Creek stream stabilization. Staff recommended moving forward with the base parking-lot work and revisiting creek stabilization later if needed; the low base bid of $359,395 came in roughly 25% under the district's cost opinion.

Board discussion clarified that the bid alternate for stream stabilization was discretionary, intended to reduce future maintenance, and could be pursued later as a change order or separate project at a lower cost than the alternate bid. The board asked whether the creek work was essential to functionality; staff said it was a “nice to have,” not a necessary element for the parking lot’s basic operation.

The motion to award the contract to Construct, Inc. carried by voice vote recorded as 4–0. Staff indicated bids were due June 9 for projects with a June 15 public hearing date for the related Miller Middle AV/security work.

Next steps: finalize the contract with Construct, Inc., schedule construction as permitted by bid documents and revisit stream stabilization options if future needs or funding allow.