Letter -Legislators re biddingCity Manager's Office
City Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001
March 11, 2003
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
mike_connolly@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Mike Connolly
Iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Senator Connolly,
I am writing to you regarding SSB 1115 related to the public bidding threshold for
municipal projects. For over 20 years, the state bidding law has required that if a
public improvement's estimated cost is over $25,000, the governing body must
advertise for sealed bids by publishing notice to bidders. Like any other
construction project, the cost of most city projects has increased greatly over the
past 20 years. Based simply on the consumer price index, inflation would have
increased the $25,000 public bidding threshold requirement set in 1980 to
$75,000 in 2003. In addition, the cost for publication has also increased over the
past 23 years. Please join us in supporting this legislation to raise the public
bidding threshold to a level consistent with today's rate of inflation.
Sincerely,
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Cc:Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Governmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
The Honorable Mike Connolly
'iowa State Senator
3458 Daniels
Dubuque, IA 52001
The Honorable Roger Stewart
Iowa State Senator
3936 317 Avenue
Preston, IA 52069
The Honorable Julie Hosch
Iowa State Senator
22852 Butterfield Road
Cascade, IA 52033
City Manager's Office
C~ty Hall
50 West 13th Street
Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4864
(563) 5894110 office
(563) 589-4149 fax
ctymgv~cityofdubuque.org
March 11, 2003
VIA Email and
1st Class Mail
pam_jochum@legis.state.ia.us
The Honorable Pam Jochum
Iowa State Rep~sentative
2368 Jackson
Dubuque, lA 52001
Dear Representative Jochum,
I am writing to you regarding HSB 188 related to the public bidding threshold for
municipal projects. For over 20 years, the state bidding law has required that if a
public improvement's estimated cost is over $25,000, the govermng body must
advertise for sealed bids by publishing notice to bidders. Like any other
construction project, the cost of most city projects has increased greatly over the
past 20 years. Based simply on the consumer price index, inflation would have
increased the $25,000 public bidding threshold requirement set in 1980 to
$75,000 in 2003. In addition, the cost for publication has also increased over the
past 23 years. Please join us in supporting this legislation to raise the public
bidding threshold to a level consistent with today's rate of inflation.
Sin ce rely~/~/~
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
Co:
Mayor Terry Duggan
Dubuque City Council
Susan Judkins, Director of Govemmental Affairs, Iowa League of Cities
Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Mike Koch, Public Works Director
,The Honomble Pam Jochum
'iowa Sta~ Rep~sent~ive
2368 Jackson
Dubuque, lA 52001
The Honorable Robert Osterhaus
Iowa State Representative
216 Austin
Maquoketa, IA 52060
The Honomble Gene Manternach
Iowa State Represent~ive
9608 Maple Road
Cascade, lA 52033
The Honomble Pat Murphy
Iowa State Representative
155 N. Gmndview Avenue
Dubuque, iA 52001
The Honorable Steven Lukan
iowa State Representative
7365 Columbus Street
New Vienna IA 52065