Council approves 50% cost hike for dam engineering

MANAWA – The Common Council unanimously approved a 50% increase in the cost of preliminary dam engineering last week.

The preliminary dam engineering conducted by Cedar Corporation will lay the groundwork for Manawa to replace the dam, which is more than 100 years old and was breached during severe storms in 2024, which caused the 180-acre mill pond to drain. Early estimates on the total to rebuild the dam and restore the mill pond put the cost at about $8.4 million.

Alderman Jim Roenz told the council last week that the total cost for the preliminary work jumped 50% from $110,000 to $164,500. He said the price jump stems from the engineering contract with Cedar Corp, which underestimated the cost for soil borings.

Roenz said Cedar Corp’s original estimate for the soil borings was about $34,000, while the actual cost has come in at $84,000. Roenz said Cedar Corp indicated that the drilling company was the cheapest option available in a tight market and had the most experience.

The cost is shared equally between Manawa and the Town of Little Wolf and Manawa’s total cost for the phase is now $82,250, an increase of $27,250.

Clerk Logan Hass said the increase will be funded through a recently approved municipal loan. The loan included built-in cushion money originally intended to help cover potential flood-related expenses, he said, which will now absorb the engineering cost increase. The Town of Little Wolf has also approved its share of the revised cost.

Cedar Corp is aiming to finish the preliminary engineering by Aug. 31, moved up from an initial October target date. The city will then issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs) from contractors interested in completing the project.