Independence council approves long-awaited paving bid for alley

After kicking the can on repaving a city alley due to the bids all coming in much higher than expected last year, the Independence city council is now moving forward with the project after receiving new bids that fit within their budget.

Dave Walter of Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc. (SEH) out of Chippewa Falls attended the council meeting last Monday to go over the new bids and explain some of the factors that went into making it a more affordable project for the city.

“The last time I appeared before you, I was presenting bid results last fall for the block one alley,” Walter said. “I’m sure you recall the prices at that time came in pretty astronomical. And given what your budget was at the time, we couldn’t recommend that you move forward with it at that time. So, we were directed to reconfigure the project and try again this year.”

Walter said, after getting feedback from some contractors, the high prices were due in large part to the fact that it was getting late in the season and there was a time crunch. He indicated that they provided contractors with a more “relaxed schedule” this time around and provided a bid alternate to see what the cost would look like if the city purchased the paving material needed for the project from Trempealeau County, which was intended to try and attract some smaller paving companies.

Pavement Consulting Services LLC from Eau Claire submitted the lowest of the three bids this time around. When factoring in both their bid and the cost of the asphalt needed for the project that would be purchased from the county, the total price tag for the project is $57,776.13. For comparison, the lowest bid received last fall was in the neighborhood of $150,000.

The council voted unanimously to proceed with the project by awarding the bid to Pavement Consulting Services LLC and purchasing the necessary asphalt from Trempealeau County.

The council also authorized several other purchases at last week’s meeting, including a water/sewer truck for around $54,000. They also awarded bids to Jacobson Electric in the amount of $9,700 to fix a damaged light pole and to GMS Electric in the amount of $12,475 to install low-voltage data cabling at the new library building.

Local kid receives lifesaving award

At last Monday’s meeting, a local kid was recognized for taking action to help save a family member’s life.

Last month, Nolan Lee realized that his uncle was having a medical emergency and took swift action by calling 911 and ensuring he got the help he needed. Independence Police Chief Jim Waniorek presented Lee with an official lifesaving award from the city at the meeting signed by himself and Mayor Tom Kloss.

“In recognition of your life-saving actions taken on the 17th day of May 2026 at 9:51 a.m., which involved identifying an individual having a life-threatening medical emergency, calling 911 and providing vital information to first responders, which led to life being saved on that day,” Waniorek said. “The Independence Police Department commends you, Nolan, for remaining calm, providing thorough information, which led to a life being saved.”