A plan to extend city water and sewer service east is moving forward.

On Monday, the Kalona City Council approved a resolution for the project, but stopped short on awarding the bid.

Bids came in well below the estimated $280,000 for the project, so City Administrator Ryan Schlabaugh wanted to take some extra time before awarding the bid.

“We need to have a finance committee meeting on this because it’s a little bit of a change, and we need to meet with the property owners on that,” Schlabaugh said. “That’s why we didn’t want to award it tonight. We have 60 days to award the contract.”

Maxwell Construction was the low bidder with a bid of $191,346.

There were seven bids submitted, ranging from $191,346 to $304,000. One of the bids was not opened because the bid bond was not properly completed.

“We’re always pleased when a bid is lower than estimates,” Schlabaugh said. “We’re taking some time to make sure there is no confusion in the bid documents.”

The plan is to award the bid in December, with work beginning after the first of the year.

“It was bid out to be winter work,” Schlabaugh said.

Currently, the city’s water and sewer service goes east to 14th Street (Nutmeg Avenue). This project would extend those services east past Sinclair Tractor and beyond drainage way that lies east of there.

Schlabaugh said that the project would allow businesses east of 14th Street to connect to city water and sewer.

“It will convey municipal services to the east, past the east drainage way,” he said. “It would eventually serve businesses and potential residential development in that area.”

Work is expected to take about 30 days once the project begins.

Schlabaugh explained that the businesses would cover their own costs of hooking into the system once it is complete.

“We looked at a couple different models and wanted to get the pricing where there’s engagement financially from some of the business owners,” he said. “We’re pulling out some of those things to see what their costs would be. This is very beneficial to the property owners. “

Mayor Ken Herington said that he has heard positive feedback about the project.

“I have a couple people talk to me, but they’re people involved in it,” Herington said. “On the whole, they’re in a hurry. They’d love to have it done tomorrow.”