Open Bids For Middle Inlet Fire Department Addition

Bids for a planned 40’X60’ addition to the Town of Middle Inlet Fire Station on Hwy. 141 at the Town Hall intersection were opened at a special Town Board meeting on at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21. After considering the bids, board members present - Supervisor Chuck Stanek and Town Chair Ron Wenzel - voted to accept the low bid totaling approximately $230,000 from Walters Construction Company of Lena, pending  authorization from the public at a special town meeting that has not yet been scheduled. The project was not addressed in the 2023 budget, and was not discussed at budget meetings.

The Walters bid was for $197,900, plus an optional add-on to include plumbing with the work for $21,960. That, plus a small contingency allowance, would bring the total to approximately $230,000. Walters was on hand for the meeting to discuss the bid and explain portions of his proposal, which includes hiring sub contractors to do some of the work. The only other bid was from Mike Koenig Construction Co. of Sheboygan, for $256,650.

Members of the Fire Department are expected to do the electrical work, but the town will need to provide materials, which will add to the cost of the building.

Plans for the fire station expansion have been in progress for several months, and Fire Chief Jon Kleuskens has expressed hope that construction can start in spring. Formal action to accept the bid and/or schedule the special town meeting may be handled at the  next regular Town Board meeting, which is to be at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 12.

Deadlines for the bidding process were set at the regular Town Board meeting on Thursday, Dec. 8.

In other action at that meeting, Chief Kleuskens reported the department had held officer elections. He was returned to office as chief and Andrew Anderson will remain as Assistant Chief.

Chief Kleuskens reported the Fire Department has remodeled a cabinet for their new Jaws of Life are in the  truck and ready to go.
In other action, the board approved a certified survey map for the Kevin Gribben and Wendy Gribben property on County X as presented.

Wenzel reported two culverts had been fixed on Maple Beech Road, potholes were patched on Cemetery Road, and a fallen tree on Creek Road was removed. He also reported that the plows had been called out for a minor snowfall two days before the start of deer season.

During time for public comment Wenzel asked if anything had been done about the street lights and the possible speed limit reduction on Hwy. 141 at the County X intersection.

Deputy ClerkTreasurer Naomi Blum said she had reported the street light problem and but there has been no action taken on looking into a possible speed limit reduction in the vicinity of the intersection.

Chief Kleuskens and other firefighters commented that there generally are several accidents each year at that intersection, and they are usually violent, with injuries. There was general agreement  a reduction of speed is needed and hopefully will prevent further accidents from happening there.

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