The Shell Rock River Watershed District’s pre-bid meeting turned up 14 companies as the district prepares to dredge Fountain Lake.

The district had a pre-bid meeting Feb. 1 to go through project details of the Fountain Lake dredge. The group also toured the staging area, dredge, pumps, pipe location and the containment disposal facility.

Interim Watershed District Administrator Andy Henschel said he expects the majority of attending companies to submit a bid.

“It was a good meeting, and I expect some good bids to come back for the project,” Henschel said.

Henschel said nine or 10 of the contractors who attended the pre-bid meeting were dredge contractors and the rest were local companies. Because the pre-bid meeting was mandatory, companies who did not attend the meeting could potentially hire those companies that did attend.

According to an addendum provided to meeting attendees, the Shell Rock River Watershed District has specified the latest dredge start date as June 15. The addendum was provided to the attending companies, answering 34 questions received at the pre-bid meeting.

The district also approved a drainage diversion to redirect stormwater around areas intended for the second and third confined disposal facilities. Henschel said the drainage diversion is part of the original plan for these two disposal facilities, but was pulled out to address separately. Work on the diversion could start as soon as possible this spring so the area is ready for construction on the second and third CDFs when the time comes.

“It’s just a crucial element for the construction of cells two and three,” he said.

As the district offers its dredge up for potential use in Fountain Lake, board managers approved the use of Pro Trucking Co. for the transportation of the district’s dredge to Ellicott Dredge Technologies in Wisconsin, where it will undergo repairs. Dan DeBoer, who chairs the watershed board, is the owner and president of Pro Trucking.

As the cost for transportation does not reach $10,000, the district did not need to submit the service for bidding, the resolution stated. They received a quote from T.J. Potter Trucking Inc. for $6,840. Pro Trucking’s quote was $4,240.

In other action:

The Watershed District board approved final pay for former Administrator Brett Behnke and approved the start of a hiring process for a new administrator.

The Lakes Foundation requested support for the annual lakes cleanup event planned for May 5. This would include providing some supplies as well as potential use of the district’s ATV. The board chose not to set a funding cap.

“The more garbage we get the better,” board member Mick Delger said.

Henschel noted the cost does not typically exceed $1,000.

The Watershed District board accepted a bid to prepare the 2017 annual water monitoring report ahead of its annual meeting March 15.