Cameron Tross and Stephanie Marsh of BG Consultants joined the Feb. 23 city council meeting via Zoom to present bids they had received on the Memorial Hall Historic Window Restoration project. Tross said three qualified bids were received. Of those, Pishny Restoration Services placed the lowest base bid (completion of the east façade windows) at $215,000. The second lowest base bid came from Vogts Construction Company at $285,000. Each bidding company also provided quotes for three alternates. Alternates are options for an expanded scope of work that are priced separately from the base bid. The city can choose to accept or reject these alternates when awarding the contract. Tross explained that BG Consultants had completed evaluations for each contractor, taking in multiple factors, including bid amount, review of qualifications, performance, and capability. Based on their assessment, BG Consultants recommended awarding the project to Pishny Restoration Services. Pishny bid $165,500 for alternate #1 (large windows on the upper level of the south facade), $60,000 for alternate #2 (the kitchen and restroom windows on the south facade) and $43,000 for alternate #3 (four windows on the west facade). The total price of the base bid plus alternates is $488,500.
However, several issues were brought up that could affect the project scope and timeline. It was noted that the radon mitigation system, a requirement for buildings that are occupied more than four hours in a day, was not included in the bid packet, creating an additional expense.
The exact cost of the mitigation system is not known but may be up to $25,000, Marsh said. City Administrator Assistant Karen Simon said that Eureka is eligible for funds through the EPA Brownfields Grants program, which helps communities address radon by identifying and mitigating this radioactive gas during the redevelopment of contaminated properties. Marsh explained that Eureka could apply for a revised scope on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) if the radon mitigation were to be completed under a different grant, but that the funding would need to be obtained and completion of the mitigation work would need to coincide with the conclusion of the CDBG grant to meet the necessary criteria. Also, the revision will affect the city’s match, potentially raising it from $85,290 to roughly $155,000, possibly creating a need for alternate funding to complete the project. City Clerk Renee Burk noted that this might be done through the selling of tax credits. Marsh also told the council that she had not found an active SAM.gov unique identity ID (UEI) for Pishny. The UEI is an identifier assigned by SAM.gov to identify entities doing business with the federal government. Without the UEI, Pishny will not be allowed to begin work. The process to obtain the UEI could take up to 14 weeks, according to Marsh.
With several factors yet unknown, Tross suggested that the city approve moving forward with the base bid only, which would allow the contract with Pishny to begin. The council will have time to review their options regarding the alternates before the deadline of March 13 to avoid having to ask for a rebid. The council agreed and are expected to choose the alternates at the next city council meeting.
Director of Public Works Chris Mitchell presented the council with a proposal regarding this year’s chip and seal project. Mitchell said the project is similar in size to what was done in 2025. The project will include portions of Poplar, Walnut, Oak, Elm, Fifth, and 13th Streets. Mitchell said that in addition, Main Street from River to Seventh and the Streets around the courthouse will receive chip sealing as well as a fog seal. Mitchell said he had contacted three contractors regarding the project, but only two responded with bids. APAC of Emporia submitted the lowest bid at $195,972.13, and Vance Brothers of Kansas City, MO, bid $202,878.60. Another $32,160 will be required to purchase the necessary aggregate to complete the job. Mitchell recommended contracting Apac, which would leave $21,867 of the $250,000 budgeted for the 2026 chip seal project. Those funds could be used to hire a contractor to stripe the longer portions of the sealed streets. Eureka has a walk-behind striper, but it is not ideal for longer runs, Mitchell explained. The council voted to accept the proposal to contract Apac and obtain quotes for striping the completed streets.
The council reviewed a quote for the purchase of a new lawn mower for the cemetery. B3 Sales quoted a Hustler Super Z Hyper Drive 60” Kawasaki FX1000 for $14,900. Mitchell said that $15,000 had been budgeted for the purchase. The council approved the purchase as quoted.
Steve Brown asked the council for permission to close Main Street from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, for the Eureka Days car show and other events. The request was approved. Brown also told the council that because Independence Day 2026 is our country’s 250th anniversary, all the fireworks shooters (pyrotechnicians) are booked for the Fourth of July. Brown said he was able to find a shooter available on Friday, July 3. The cost of the 14-minute show is around $7,600, including the shooter’s insurance policy. Brown said he had also reached out to several other pyrotechnic firms and was awaiting their reply before final booking of the Eureka Fourth of July fireworks show. The Fourth of July parade is expected to be held on Saturday, July 4.
The consent agenda, including the minutes of the Feb 9 regular meeting; scheduled claims list for expenses due through Feb. 23, in the amount of $64,588.37; and purchase order #731081 to Brenntag for the amount of $7,774.03 were approved as presented.
The next Eureka City Council meeting is scheduled for March 9 at 7 p.m. at the Eureka Public Library.
