A plan to redevelop Mill City Falls Park has been delayed after the city council rejected contractor bids that came in higher than engineer estimates.
The city requested proposals for the first phase of the project and received a bid from Siegmund Construction of $796,505, and from ASA Construction of $720,541. The council planned to award the project Feb. 22, however, both bids were significantly higher than estimates. The city will re-examine the factors that led to higher bids and whether any specific factors led to such a low number of bidders.
Mill City wants to add features such as a public plaza, pathways and an overlook with a concrete wall that could potentially have a mural. The city has received federal pandemic recovery funds for the project through Marion County, and is seeking a grant from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.