Council awards contract for Messer project

The Rhinelander Common Council received a welcome surprise Monday evening when they learned that the bids received for the upcoming Messer Street road and utility improvement project were lower than expected.

At the recommendation of Town and Country Engineering, the outside firm that provides the city with engineering and public works-related services, the council voted unanimously to award the Messer project contract to Musson Brothers, Inc. of Rhinelander for a total price of $6,613.895.77.

“It is important to note that these bids came in substantially less than originally estimated,” city administrator Patrick Reagan wrote in his report to the council.

According to the resolution, the pre-bid estimate for the base bid for the project was $7,555,200.83. 

The project, which is scheduled to get underway in the spring, consists of a total reconstruction of various streets in the Messer Street/Hodag Park area, including: replacement of all underground utilities; reconstruction of curb and gutter, sidewalk, crushed aggregate base course and asphalt pavement, replacement of laterals, and improvements to the Rose Street Lift Station.

It was the subject of considerable discussion over the last half of 2024 as residents of the Hodag Park neighborhood asked the council to reconsider the original plans. 

Ultimately, a compromise design plan was crafted with the goal of ensuring necessary improvements are made while also preserving the character of the neighborhood as much as possible.

According to a letter from Mark Barden of Town and Country to the council, 38 general contractors, subcontractors and material suppliers requested sets of the plans, specifications and bidding documents. 

Four contractors ultimately submitted bids.

“The low bidder, using the base bid only, the base bid and any combination of alternate bids, or the base bid, supplemental bid and any combination of alternate bids is Musson Bros, Inc. of Rhinelander, an experienced utility and street contractor that has completed similar projects for the city in the past,” Barden wrote. “The bid prices are lower than the original budget due to a competitive bidding market,” he added. “We recommend that Musson Brothers, Inc. be awarded a contract for the base bid and supplemental bids, as well as alternates 4, 5 & 6 for the reconstruction of the alleys, if the budget allows, for a total of $6,613,895.77.”

In other business Monday, the council approved a “concessionaire agreement” with Roger Brisk to sell and serve intoxicating beverages at Northwood Golf Club. This was necessary because the course is now being managed in-house and the city cannot issue a liquor license to itself, Reagan explained.

Brisk, an “experienced owner and operator of bars and restaurants,” has agreed to serve as the concessionaire to manage and oversee the retail beverage sales component of the Northwoods Golf Club, upon the city and the agent obtaining the necessary permit from the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, the council’s resolution states.

With the golf season around the corner, the panel also approved a new point-of-sale system for Northwood. However, at the recommendation of Mayor Kris Hanus, the council voted to discontinue the practice of offering city employees discounted membership rates.

According to Reagan, only two employees were known to be interested in the discounted memberships.

Finally, during the public comment period, alderman Tom Barnett made a statement in support of the golf course.

He explained that he recently met with course manager Keith Staron and Niina Baum, organizer of the recent Heal Creek Dog Dash, and came away from both meetings feeling hopeful about the future of the course.

“I was particularly impressed by Keith’s innovative vision and forward-thinking ideas for (the course’s) development,” Barnett said. “I’m also very optimistic about Niina’s potential contributions to the marketing efforts, and I believe they make a strong and complementary team. I’m hopeful that Keith, along with the other dedicated individuals involved will successfully revitalize the golf course and I’m fully committed to supporting their effort and these ideas 100 percent. I’m excited to see the positive changes they bring. I want to thank Keith and Niina for restoring my hope in the future of our golf course.”

To watch the full council meeting, visit www.hodagtv.com.