A project that was tabled from last year will be done later this year in Jefferson.

The Jefferson City Council approved at their recent meeting in February a $108,905 bid from Tallgrass Land and Stewardship of Waukee to improve the front entrance to City Hall. City Administrator Mike Palmer says this project was out for bid last year and there was only one bidder and the cost estimate was far higher than the engineering estimate.

Palmer points out the bid from Tallgrass was 15-percent higher than Bolton and Menk’s estimate of $94,690. However, Palmer notes the bid that was approved was 30-percent lower than the one bid from last July from Woodruff Construction of $139,997. He talks about the project.

“We’re pretty excited about this because the front entryway definitely needs some help. The stairs are deteriorated, we need better accessibility to it, it’ll be a complete redo of the front. The entire sidewalk from the alleyway all the way out to Washington Street, the sidewalk and the curb, will all be replaced. It’s going to be a very, very nice inviting look.”     

Palmer says the project will begin as the weather allows and while work is being done, residents will have an alternate access point to the City Hall. He adds that payment for the project is from a previously passed bond by the council.