At the Oct. 17 meeting, the Pierre City Commission awarded five bids -one to rebuild Pawnee Street, and four to replace electric equipment.
Pawnee Street
Pawnee Street, between Sioux and Dakota Avenues, will be rebuilt next spring. As part of the project, new curb and gutter will be installed, and underground utilities will be replaced.
The commission approved the bid from Sharpe Enterprises for $353,000; Sharpe was the lowest of two bidders.
According to City Engineer Nick Waters this was the second time the city bid the project; no bids were received during the first round.
“We took a run at getting it done in 2023; unfortunately, timing didn’t work out,” said Waters. “The contractor will get started this coming spring.”
Work is scheduled to be complete mid-summer 2024.
Electric System
The commission also approved four bids to replace aging electric distribution equipment.
The first bid, for $522,000, goes to Builders Electric. Builders Electric will replace the underground electrical line that runs along Highway 14 between Garfield and Euclid Avenues.
The other three bids are for different equipment needed to install the underground line, as well as parts scheduled for replacement throughout the community next year. In total those bids are approximately $1.17 million. Dakota Supply Group picked up two of the bids at $1.15 million. The remainder goes to WESCO.
“The commission has been very committed to staying on top of our utility needs, including electric infrastructure,” said Brad Palmer, Utility Director. “I thank them for that. It’s one of the reasons Pierre can continue to provide some of the most reliable electric service in the nation.”
The Pierre Electric Department recently received a Certificate of Excellence in Reliability from the American Public Power Association.