File photo The Trap Range building located at 214 N. 21st Street is over 50 years old and is in need of being replaced. New Ulm City Council voted to reject all bids received for the new trap range building projects received on April 28.

NEW ULM – The bids for the New Ulm’s trap range building project were a misfire.

The New Ulm City Council voted to reject all bids received for the new trap range building projects received on April 28. The bids received came in higher than estimated, forcing city staff to request the council give them another shot at finishing the project.

New Ulm’s current trap range building is over 50 years old, having been constructed in 1972 and 1973. It has aged beyond repair and is undersized compared to the recent growth in the use of the trap and skeet range.

In March, the council authorized a professional service contract with RW Carlstrom for the construction a new trap range building, located at 214 N. 21st Street. At that time, the estimated cost for construction of the new building was $235,000.

Park and Recreation Director Joey Schugel said the entire project was separated into seven different trade categories for bidding; general trades, cast in place concrete, fluid applied flooring, painting, plumbing, HVAC and electrical. The city received bids in six of the seven categories, with no bids received for painting. In addition, the bids received were all higher than expected.

Based on the bids received, staff estimated the project would come in at either $382,307 or $413,096.

After seeing the bids come in $100,000 more than the estimate, parks staff met with Sioux Valley Gun Club, who are providing significant funding on the project, to discuss alternative options.

Schugel said both staff and Sioux Valley Gun Club members recommended rejecting these bids in favor of an alternative option.

Councilor Eric Warmka asked if there were any perspective contractors who could bid closer to the project estimate.

Schugel said after the bids were received, staff learned some area contractors chose not to bid on the project due to Department of Natural Resource (DNR) state grant requirements. The DNR previously agreed to provide $100,000 matching grant for the project.

“We are working with the DNR on options as well and potentially not moving forward with those fund,” Schugel said.

Schugel believed there were trade professionals already connected with Sioux Valley Gun Club, who stayed away from bidding because of DNR requirements.

Warmka made the motion to reject all bids and allow staff to work with Sioux Valley Gun Club on alternative options. The motion was seconded by Councilor Tom Schmitz and was unanimously approved.