Leelanau County has contracted the Leland-based Easling Construction Company to repair the walkway over the Leland Dam, which was deteriorating, according to dam authority Chairman Steven Christensen. The $108,646 contract was approved last week 4-2 by the county board of commissioners.
Commissioners Ty Wessell, Jim O’Rourke, Doug Rexroat, and Melinda Lautner voted to approve the contract at an Oct. 15 special session with commissioners Kama Ross and Gwenne Allgaier opposed. This somewhat controversial item was on the regular session meeting agenda a week earlier, but it was postponed due to disagreements about which bid to accept.
According to Interim Administrator Richard Lewis, the leading bids were from two firms – Easling and Fisher Contracting Company of Midland. Fisher Contracting offered two quotes: a less expensive option using ipe wood and a slightly higher estimate for using thermally modified ash for the decking.
