Two Less Substations

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this motion is to have the Council consider awarding a contract for purchase of equipment and materials that would replace the Downtown electric substation behind the Parks and Recreation Building on Campus Street. The Work includes miscellaneous transformers, switchgear, materials and line upgrades at various locations in the system.

The City of Lake Mills received sealed bids for the electric equipment and materials at 1 p.m., local time, March 27, 2013 at City Hall.
The bids were opened and there were several low bidders with a total bid of $413,615.81. The low bidder provided a 5% bond as required.

This motion allows Lake Mills Light and Water to purchase equipment and materials to begin the process of removing the Downtown and Shorewood Hills substations as budget resources are developed. The transformers will provide additional capacity and flexibility to manage load growth and improve reliability on the west side of the electric system. The engineer’s memo is included in the packet.

BACKGROUND

Forster Engineering has recommended several system upgrades that eliminate two substations from the electric system. The substations are at the substation located in the Downtown behind the Parks and Recreation Building and the other is the Shorewood Hills substation located at the intersection of CTH “V” and Shorewood Hills Road. Three of the transformers will be placed at locations on the west side of the City and one will be located on the west side of the lake. The transformers proposed to be located in the City will have one on Catlin near the High School, one near the Municipal Building and one on Church Street near the Old Middle School Gym site. The one on the west side of the lake is proposed to be near the west edge of Shorewood Meadows Subdivision.
The proposed improvement will loop the electric system on the west side of the lake which improves reliability addresses the Light and Water’s emerging energy needs.

DECISION

Staff recommends the Council accept the bids listed in the motion with a total bid amount from all supplies of $413,615.81. The funds for this project are coming from the Electric Utility Fund account with total project costs of approximately $450,000.00. 

The Public Works Board is has recommended accepting the bids listed in the motion for electric equipment and materials in the amount of $413,615.81.

The motion authorizes the City Manager to the bids of the lowest responsible bidders and purchase the equipment and materials. The Engineer’s recommendation and memos are included in the packet. The bid tabulation is included in the packet.