IRON MOUNTAIN — The Iron Mountain City Council has opted to open construction bids for the proposed Pewabic Hill Mountain Bike Trail System, even after an official with a local non-profit group backing the project recommended the bid process be extended.

Chad Susott, president of the Dickinson Trail Network, suggested Tuesday the council hit pause to consider adjusting the bid specifications.

The DTN has committed $64,000 in matching funds with a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund grant that will provide $183,200 to build 6 miles of public trails on city property east of Park Avenue at East B Street. With in-kind work, estimated funding for the project totals $262,200.

But Susott recommended the company hired have experience in creating such trails — especially given it will have jumps and other challenges for mountain bikers — rather than just any general contractor.

The trail is expected to attract “world-class riders,” Susott said, if done right and with safety in mind.

In talking with companies that specialize in such work, Susott said the bid specifications for Pewabic Hill had “flaws” that kept them from submitting a proposal. In particular, he cited the 60-day deadline for finishing the trail as “not realistic.”

Council member Kyle Blomquist noted as well that the city’s bid documents included a potential $500 fine for every day past the deadline.

Mayor Dale Alessandrini, however, objected to a further delay on opening bids. The city, he said, already extended the original Dec. 18 bid deadline another two weeks — putting aside the three bids received — to allow those contractors supposedly unaware of the project to prepare an offer, yet no new proposals were received.

The council did not plan to act on the bids Tuesday, Alessandrini said, instead referring them to committee.

Opening the bids would give the council an idea of the range for the project, Alessandrini said. And any company that gets the project would have to meet Coleman Engineering’s trail plans.

They could ultimately opt to reject all the bids if found unsuitable for the project, he said, though City Attorney Gerald Pirkola advised the city would need a legitimate reason for rejection.

Grant programs usually have limited time for bidding projects out, City Manager Jordan Stanchina noted.

The council voted 3-2 to open the bids, with Alessandrini, David Farragh and Ken Clawson in favor and Blomquist and Pam Maule opposed. Council members Cathy Tomassoni and Mark Wickman were absent.

The bids were: Triest Forest Products of Bark River, $421,777; FA Industrial Services of Iron Mountain, $262,175; and Bacco Construction Co. of Iron Mountain, $542,700.

The council unanimously sent the bids to the Infrastructure Committee for review.

In other business, the council —

— Heard that 56 deer were harvested last year through the deer management program, compared with 41 in 2022 and 32 in 2021.

— Approved paying 2024 membership dues of $1,477 to the Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission, or CUPPAD. Stanchina said dues have decreased due to the city’s population declining in the 2020 Census.

— Opted to stay with the current list of depositories: First National Bank of Iron Mountain, First Bank, Forward Financial Credit Union, Incredible Bank, Huntington National Bank, U.P State Bank, Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union and Michigan Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System, or CLASS.