City council withholds 10% until street is fixed

MARENGO — After meeting with Gee Asphalt Systems, the Marengo City Council agreed to pay the contractor 90% of the amount it billed the city for work performed on South Street last year.

In January, the city council refused to approve payment of a bill for $46,800 for work completed before RAGBRAI rode through town in July 2023. Gee billed the city $1,430 for pothole patching, $10,980 for crack sealant, $3,850 for wide gap crack sealant, $28,830 for friction seal and $1,733 for mobilization and prep.

But Marengo city officials said the work was substandard; the city had to fix some of the work itself.

Gee Asphalt representatives walked the area in question with city officials – including Councilman Travis Schlabach, Mayor Adam Rabe and Public Works Director Lonnie Altenhofen-- Feb. 7 and agreed to clean and to touch up delamination areas on South Street – areas where rock is missing due to the emulsion sprayer misfiring – and to spot seal over areas where the cold patch was put down after the sealant was applied.

The city, in return, agreed to pay 90% of the bill now and the final 10% when repairs have been made.

“He admitted that their guy had screwed some things up,” said Schlabach.

Gee will fix problem areas when the weather warms up, probably June or July, the company said in an email to Marengo City Administrator Karla Marck.