ESCANABA — A splash pad is finally back in the works following the City of Escanaba’s approval of the new bid.

The Escanaba City Council unanimously approved a bid to construct a splash pad at Webster Park at its meeting Thursday night.

The work will begin this year with an estimated completion date of November, 2025.

“So, a long road with the splash pad. I think we’ve talked about where it’s been at over several budgets now,” said Escanaba City Manager James McNeil.

Escanaba Parks and Recreation Director Kim Peterson explained the project started in 2019 to 2020, but due to COVID-19, it pushed the project back.

Peterson said she attempted to bid out the project with the goal of opening the splash pad in 2024, but no bids were submitted.

She explained that companies did not bid before because the “timeline was not realistic.”

Peterson solicited bids again and received three bids with Walechka of Carney being the most cost-effective bid submitted.

The project will cost $207,400 to complete, but the City of Escanaba is only on the hook for an additional $7,400.

$150,00 was provided by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) trust fund and a matching fund of $50,000 from the city.

Peterson added that the Webster Park splash pad will have additional amenities such as benches, bike racks and pavilions.

Council Member Tyler DuBord asked what the life expectancy of the rubber mats at the splash pad are; Peterson said nothing is guaranteed, but based on the information she has received, the mats should last eight to 10 years.

The council unanimously approved the request and Mayor Pro-Tem Karen Moore thanked Peterson for her persistence in starting the project.

“Kudos to Kim (Peterson) for sticking out all these years,” she said.

“I was not giving up on this,” Peterson replied.

In other business, the council

– Approved a request from the Escanaba Wastewater Department to retain the services of FSO Management of Oconto Falls, Wis., for the disposal of bio-solids with an amount of $12,500 mobilization fee/event and $0.27/in-place gallon.

– Approved the retention of professional services of C2AE with regard to the DWSRF Project Plan in an amount not to exceed $20,000.

– Approved a request from the Escanaba Wastewater Department to retain the services of Tunnel Vision of Escanaba to clean and televise, according to NASSCO PACP guidelines, approximately 24 miles of sanitary sewer in an amount not to exceed $500,000. Council Member DuBord made the caveat for the administration to approach Tunnel Vision about an estimate regarding the lining of the sewer pipes. The funds are available and within the current department’s fiscal year.

– Approved a request from the Escanaba Wastewater Department to retain the services of Fishbeck of Grand Rapids with regards to wastewater department Maximum Allowable Headworks Loading (MAHL) and Local Limits Evaluation in an amount not to exceed $31,100. Funds are available and within the current department’s fiscal year.

– Approved a request from Escanaba Public Safety to replace one Ultra boiler with a Well McLain Evergreen 299k btu boiler from Berger & King in the amount of $14,525.

– Approved a request from Escanaba Public Safety to install traffic signs around the city, including installing a 25 mph sign on 14th Avenue South; installing a yield sign at the intersection of 13th Avenue South and South 13th Street; installing a yield sign at the intersection of 15th Avenue South and South 13th Street; installing a yield sign at the intersection of 12th Avenue South and South 13th Street; and installing a no parking sign on the west side of 100 block of South 15th Street at the Market place.

– Approved a request to purchase a new fuel tank monitor system for the Escanaba Marina in an amount of $14,045.32.