Work will be completed this year in New London

By John Faucher

The New London City council approved the lowest bids for the Riverside boat launch piling replacement, and tennis court resurfacing projects at Pfeifer and Abraham Parks at its Aug. 11 meeting.

Parks and Recreation Director Chad Hoerth reported that seven companies requested to be placed on the plan holders list, but only two submitted bids for the Riverside boat launch piling replacement.

Radtke Contractors placed the lowest bid at $17,490 and NuGen Johnson, LLC submitted a bid at $69,500.

Alderman John Romberg asked why there was such a big difference in bids.

Hoerth said the difference in geographic location of the firms could have been a factor, as well as varying pay scales of their employees.

“I know that Radtke utilizes non-union labor,” said Hoerth. “So I don’t know how much of that factored into the difference, but they also are located just down the road in Winneconne.”

“Several firms withdrew interest once they found out Radtke was bidding on the project,” said Hoerth.
Hoerth said it might have also been a factor that the work needs to be done yet this year.

The existing six-inch dock pilings located at the west boat launch, tipped over from ice shoves during the spring of 2014. Crews will first remove the damaged pilings and then place new 12-inch pilings in their place.

“We will have to retro fit new brackets onto the docks in order to fit the new 12-inch pilings,” said Hoerth. “Hopefully Mother Nature won’t take these out.”

Tennis court resurfacing
The council also approved two bids from Midwest Sealcoat to resurface tennis courts located at Pfeifer Park and Abraham Park.

The bid for the Pfeifer Park tennis courts came in at $12,750 and the bid for Abraham Park tennis courts came in at $13,900.

Hoerth told the Parks and Recreation Committee that only one proposal came in for the tennis court resurfacing project, however it was from the same company that resurfaced the courts at Hatten Park a few years ago.

“I was very pleased with their work,” said Hoerth. “I recommend awarding the contract to Midwest Sealcoat.”

Hoerth said he wants to get the courts resurfaced as soon as possible because the tennis team uses Pfeifer Park.

He also said that the courts at Abraham Park would include the addition of blended lines for pickle ball.

City council approved the bids unanimously.