Construction and renovation throughout the city of Baltic were discussed at length at the most recent city council meeting June 11. Councilors approved a bid on the Baltic Heights trail while making way for the bid process on Elm Avenue improvements.

The council discussed the timeline for Elm Avenue in Baltic, with work on the road expected to begin as early as late August. Plans for the renovation were submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources June 7, and the project is set to go out for bids July 18.

Bids will be opened Aug. 1, and according to maintenance administrative assistant Ryan Fods, work is set to start in the first part of September or possibly earlier.

“A lot of contractors don’t have work lined up for September,” Fods said of the prospect of obtaining several bids on the project.

The council also asked Fods for an update on the D&I Railroad easement application for right of way on Elm Avenue. “They’re more worried about if they had a derailment again,” Fods said of the application.

Also on the Baltic council’s agenda was a request from the school district to waive part of the building permit fee on the school’s already begun concession/restroom facility construction.

School superintendent Bob Sittig approached the city about reducing the cost, as donated dollars are covering much of the total construction cost. Mayor Mike Wendland relayed that the district’s reasoning was that it was a “community project.”

The estimated total cost of the permit would be around $1,445, with $695.50 toward the permit itself, $300 toward a water tap, $200 toward a sewer tap and $250 toward a water meter.

City finance officer Elaine Hendrickson suggested the council waive the permit value, as well as the cost of the water tap, effectively donating “in-kind” $1,000. The city opted to do so, charging a reduced rate of $445.50.

Rounding out construction discussion at the council meeting, Wendland updated council members and the public on the bid process for the walking trail in Baltic Heights. The city received nine total bids, with the lowest, Dakota Road Builders, coming in at $88,838.50. The high bid was approximately $123,000. The original engineer’s estimate on the project was about $95,000.

The council ultimately decided the group’s most recent work proved effective.

“They have just recently completed a trail in Madison and did not have any issues at all there,” Wendland said. The next highest bid submitted was $2,500 higher than Dakota Road Builders’.