The difference between the estimate and the actual bid was the focus of a discussion at the Natural Resource Commission’s meeting last week. While considering the $5.5 million bid for finishing the Lake Darling Restoration project, the commission asked why the bid was more than the $4.8 million engineering estimate.

Chad Dolan, DNR Fisheries Biologist stationed at Lake Darling, says they explained that there were a few aspects of the project not included in the initial bid, due to time constraints. Those items were added to the estimate later on, making it closer to $5.4 million. The bid was ultimately approved and work is expected to begin later this month.

Dolan shares that Don Klein with the Izaak Walton League, Ed Raber with WEDG, Southeast Parks Supervisor Tom Basten, himself, and others with the DNR attended the meeting to show their support, and express the importance of the project’s completion.