Andy Waletzko, of Hy-Tec Construction, provided Crosslake City Council members with an update on plans for the new city hall building Monday, June 10.
Waletzko said some site preparation and clearing has been done at the densely wooded property so it could be surveyed. He said city staff is working with staff from Hy-Tec and Widseth Smith and Nolting engineering firm to fine-tune the design of the new city hall building that will house administrative offices and a police station.
The council in May approved the purchase of seven acres of land at the corner of County Road 66 and Daggett Bay Road to build the new city hall. The goal is to start construction after the design plans are approved in August.
Mayor Dave Nevin explained that the plans include the addition of an elevator so the basement can be used for city storage. City council chambers will be located in the center of the building with staff offices built along the exterior corridors so natural light will filter into these areas of the building used more frequently.
Hy-Tec Construction was hired to work with WSN to draw up the architectural and engineering designs and project specifications for both the new city hall and renovations to the existing city hall for fire department use. The city hasn't awarded the construction project to a company yet, not until the plans and specifications are completed, but Nevin asked the council to give Hy-Tec some sort of assurance that firm would be the chosen contractor.
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The city received two other letters of interest from builders for the projected $4.8 million project. W. Gohman Construction, with offices in Minneapolis and Lake Shore, and Bradbury Stamm Construction, of St. Cloud, which is currently building the new senior housing complex in Crosslake, sent letters of interest to manage the construction project.
City Attorney Brad Person explained that the council is not ready to vote on awarding the contract until Hy-Tec and WSN complete the project specifications and design plans. Instead, the council voted to ask Sourcewell for information on its bid awarding and construction process that would be used if Hy-Tec were selected as its general contractor.
Council member Dave Schrupp said the city would be remiss if it didn't check references for its prospective contractors so he planned to do that for Hy-Tec Construction. Other council members also expressed interest in checking references.
