Galesville council OKs sidewalk replacement

The Galesville city council last week approved replacing sections of sidewalk downtown on Main and Gale Streets.

Dutch Concrete & Construction, LLC out of Onalaska will be contracted for the work, which will cost $38,920 and includes new sidewalks, replacing steps in front of stores, new curbs and the addition of improvements in line with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The city will be in charge of removing trees and tree grates as well as coordinating with downtown businesses on any disruptions caused by the work. The trees have created some of the issues with the sidewalks, public works director Todd Peterson said at last Thursday’s meeting.

Incoming mayor Tom Thatcher spoke in favor of the other bid the city collected for sidewalk repairs, citing a more detailed bid from Galesville business Reedy Concrete Const. Inc. for $41,498.

“I just think the Dutch Concrete bid leaves a little bit to the imagination as far as how much concrete is going to be poured, what they’re going to do. The other bid (Reedy) described the dimensions and what they were going to do a little bit better,” Thatcher said.

Streets and sidewalks committee chair Diane Redsten said the committee followed up with Dutch Concrete to get more details on the bid after it was received and Peterson felt comfortable with the bid after the follow-up, Redsten said at last Thursday’s meeting.

The motion to have the Onalaska contractor handle the job was approved 5-1 with Thatcher opposed.