Consent 1.A.2.
City Council Regular Business Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 03/23/2026
- TITLE
- W.O. 25-23 Fiber Optic - Belknap Service Center to Stillwater Building, Bid Award
- PRESENTED BY:
- Mac Fogelsong
- Department:
- Public Works
Presentation:
No
Legal Review:
No
Project Number:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council award a contract for W.O. 25-23 Fiber Optic - Belknap Service Center to City Hall to Millennium Electric, LLC, in the amount of $972,707.82.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This project will install a dedicated fiber optic connection between the Belknap Service Center and City Hall, improving reliability, bandwidth capacity, and security for communications serving key Public Works facilities that currently rely on wireless connections. The fiber installation will also provide redundancy within the City’s communications network, strengthening operational resiliency for critical infrastructure. Two bids were received, with Millennium Electric, LLC submitting the lowest responsible bid at $972,707.82. Staff recommends awarding the contract to Millennium Electric, LLC, with the approximately $120,000 budget shortfall covered using available Water and Wastewater electrical funds.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Fiber Optic project from the Belknap Service Center to City Hall will install a dedicated fiber backbone connection between key City facilities. This connection will become part of the City-owned network and overall communications infrastructure.
Belknap Service Center and the Water Treatment Plant are currently served by wireless communications. While functional, wireless is more susceptible to outages, bandwidth limitations, and security concerns. Installation of a dedicated fiber connection will provide significantly improved reliability, increased bandwidth capacity, and enhanced network security. Currently, Public Works experiences frequent issues with wireless communications.
The project will also create redundancy within the City's communications system, reducing operational risk and improving connectivity for critical facilities. This investment strengthens long-term infrastructure resiliency and supports continued delivery of essential City Services.
The project was advertised on February 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website. Staff opened bids on March 3, 2026. Two bids were received. Millenium Electric, LLC submitted the lowest responsible bid.
Belknap Service Center and the Water Treatment Plant are currently served by wireless communications. While functional, wireless is more susceptible to outages, bandwidth limitations, and security concerns. Installation of a dedicated fiber connection will provide significantly improved reliability, increased bandwidth capacity, and enhanced network security. Currently, Public Works experiences frequent issues with wireless communications.
The project will also create redundancy within the City's communications system, reducing operational risk and improving connectivity for critical facilities. This investment strengthens long-term infrastructure resiliency and supports continued delivery of essential City Services.
The project was advertised on February 6, 13, 20, and 27, 2026, in the Yellowstone County News and on the City's website. Staff opened bids on March 3, 2026. Two bids were received. Millenium Electric, LLC submitted the lowest responsible bid.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The following bids were received:
The project was included in the FY26 Water and Wastewater Fund budgets; however, the bid results exceed the budgeted amount by approximately $120,000. The shortfall will be covered using available Water and Wastewater electrical funds.
| Contractor | Total |
| Millennium Electric, LLC | $972,707.82 |
| JKL Associates, Inc. | $1,113,720.95 |
The project was included in the FY26 Water and Wastewater Fund budgets; however, the bid results exceed the budgeted amount by approximately $120,000. The shortfall will be covered using available Water and Wastewater electrical funds.
STAKEHOLDERS
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Award W.O. 25-23 Fiber Optic - Belknap Service Center to City Hall to Millennium Electric, LLC, in the amount of $972,707.82; or
- Not award a contract and reject all bids. If no contract is awarded, Belknap Service Center and the Water Treatment Plant will continue to rely on wireless communications, which are more susceptible to outages, bandwidth limitations, and potential security vulnerabilities.