NEGAUNEE — Negaunee City Council members rejected three bids Thursday night for a proposed mine fencing project in the city.

The city had published a request for proposals in May for the project to add fencing around multiple abandoned mine sites in the city. The bids ranged from $59,730 to $185,000, city officials said.

“Unfortunately due to material costs, the city rejected all three bids,” Negaunee zoning administrator David Nelson said.

According to the documents on the city’s website, two options were possible, with contractors submitting one bid for each option:

Option A

≤ Construction of around 300 feet of wooden fencing with wire mesh panels at Jackson Mine Lions Park, with a similar design as the fencing at Laughing Whitefish Falls being the preferred design.

≤ Removal and reuse of around 1,500 feet of fencing in the Old Iron Street vicinity.

≤ Construction of around 4,000 feet of fencing throughout the city of Negaunee, with 1,500 feet of fencing will utilize the removed fencing from the Old Iron Street vicinity.

≤ Resecuring mining adit entrances in the Jackson Mine Lions Park Area.

Option B

≤ Construction of approximately 300 feet of wooden fencing with wire mesh panels at Jackson Mine Lions Park, with a similar design as the fencing at Laughing Whitefish Falls being the preferred design.

≤ Construction of around 3,200 feet of fencing throughout the city of Negaunee.

≤ Resecuring mining adit entrances in the Jackson Mine Lions Park Area.

Project planners had planned to use upcoming American Rescue Plan fund allocations, but they believed the American Rescue Plan funds could not adequately fund the project as bid, city officials said.

Furthermore, city officials said they did not believe the city of Negaunee should be held entirely financially responsible for the cost of the fencing abandoned mine sites. However, the project may still be partially funded by the expected American Rescue Plan funds after the funds are issued and directed to the city projects for which the funds are already allocated, city officials said at Thursday’s meeting.

Negaunee City Council members said the city plans to communicate to the county mining inspector that the city is working on solutions regarding the fencing, though they will request the inspector allows them more time to plan for the project and its costs.

Katie Segula can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is ksegula@miningjournal.net.