Council Balks at Nearly $15,000 in Street Bids
Newport's council opened proposals for crosswalks and three street grades, then sent the whole package to committee after the low bids gave them sticker shock.
At the regular meeting of the council Tuesday evening all members of the council except Millard were present. The mayor reported on the garbage-dumping grounds, and it was said that improvements had been made and no objection was anticipated.
Bids were opened for street work. For six crosswalks on the avenue, only one bid was received, that of F. W. Kimm, who offered to build them at $20 each; his bid was considered satisfactory and accepted. For grading Scott Avenue, proposals were received from J. H. Long and J. P. Berneck, including costs of bonding. On Third Street, the low bid was $3,096.28 and Berneck bid $3,990.50. On Washington Avenue, the low bid was $5,992.54 and Berneck bid $6,178.75.
The low bids, totaling nearly $15,000, seemed to stagger the council. On motion the bids were referred to the committee of the whole to be considered at the next meeting. The council discussed advertising for new bids and making an effort to secure the best contractors from out of town. The committee on streets was directed to straighten out the tangle on Washington Avenue and make definite locations, the engineer being engaged in fixing the original corner posts.
“The low bids, totaling nearly $15,000, seemed to stagger the council.”
Street bonds and contractor bids are still the bread and butter of small-city councils, and the sticker shock is familiar: Newport residents today still debate which streets get paved first and what public works will really cost. The 1909 council's decision to send the bids to committee rather than award them on the spot is a very recognizable municipal move.
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