CITY AWARDS BID FOR WEST-SIDE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

JEREMY WALTNER – PUBLISHER

The city of Freeman’s Westward View housing development is expected to begin taking shape soon.

Meeting in special session late Monday afternoon, Sept. 27, the Freeman City Council voted 6-0 to award the bid for site prep and utility work throughout the 14-acre tract to Menning Excavating, Inc. of Mitchell. The bid came in at $506,441.80 and was the lowest of four submitted.

The other three were as follows:

H&W Contracting of Sioux Falls, $520,745.90

Slowey Construction, Inc. of Yankton, $567,715.75

Tom’s Backhoe Service, Inc. of Brainerd, Minn, $620,673.50

The bid from Menning Excavating, Inc. — to be engineered by Stockwell Engeineers, Inc. — is for the first two phases of the project and will cover grading, as well as sewer, water and storm drainage hookups, all expected to take place this fall. The grade work will be done up to the property line of each of the 18 lots that are for sale.

The third phase of the project is street and curb and gutter work and will be bid separately. City officials say the cost of that phase is estimated at $250,000, with the work anticipated next spring. The construction of the street off Cedar will be an extention of Fifth Street.

Monday’s action was the latest from a housing development project that has included the critical involvement of the Freeman Growth Foundation (FGF) and Freeman Community Development Corporation (FCDC). Earlier this year the FGF agreed to gift the necessary finances to the FCDC for purchase of the property owned by Lee Larson and used for agricultural purposes. The city of Freeman, in turn, agreed to pay for the development of that property.

The land is located on the western edge of Freeman — west of the city water tower and across the Cedar Street roadway. Its elevation is the highest in city limits, and city officials have said that, along with a shelterbelt of trees to the north, makes it an ideal location for housing.

Lots have been for sale since the second week of September and range in price from $30,000 to $50,000. Those interested in learning more should contact Carol Eisenbeis at 605-925-4444.