DEPARTMENT: Facilities Management
FILE TYPE: Regular Action
TITLE
title
Authorization To Award Bid And Execute Contract With Ebert Inc. To Provide General Contractor Services For Recycling Zone Plus Project
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize award of bid and execution of a contract with Ebert Inc. dba Ebert Companies to provide general contractor services for the Recycling Zone Plus project.
SUMMARY
The Recycling Zone Plus facility will be a 19,765-square-foot facility providing space for the sorting of reuse products from household hazardous waste, sorting by hazard categories, packing, bulking, weighing, and safe storage of hazardous waste. After check-in, patrons will have the option to drop off scrap metal, paper/cardboard, and tires themselves and then either exit the site or proceed to a covered drop-off area where staff will receive materials, including batteries, oil, paints, fluorescent lamps, and other household chemicals and products. Most materials will then be sent off-site for further processing. Some products will remain at the site for other patrons to take at no cost.
Dakota County's and Scott County’s existing household hazardous waste and recycling centers are insufficient to meet current and future needs. The two facilities properly manage almost seven million pounds of material per year from over 80,000 participants. Dakota County’s facility already handles four times the capacity it was designed to accommodate, and Scott County’s program growth is projected to be 325 percent by 2030. In addition, the large geographical area of Scott County and Dakota County results in underserved areas. In a recent survey, 25 percent of Dakota County residents who did not use the facility said it was either too far away or inconvenient.
A regional facility located in the Lakeville geographic area would increase participation by 32 percent by offering additional convenient opportunities to properly manage hazardous waste and recyclables. An additional site serving both counties will also prolong the life of the two existing facilities by slowing the growth at those sites.
A presentation of the schematic design work was shared for approval at the November 21, 2023, Physical Development Committee of the Whole Meeting.
The base bid design includes the minimum number of additional items to meet Minnesota Buildings, Benchmarks, and Beyond (B3) requirements as outlined in the Solid Waste Processing Facilities Capital Assistance Program. These include 42.5 kW of electricity-producing solar panels (quantity 79 solar panels), including the added roof structure to support it, a geothermal system, a radon exhaust system, 29 additional trees, and bird-safe glass.
Bid documents were prepared by LHB, the project design firm, which included strategic alternates to provide options to the County Board for consideration.
A public bid was advertised on September 25, 2025. Eight bids were received and opened on October 16, 2025 (Attachment: Bid Tabulation).
The bidders were asked to provide base bids, including four alternates.
• Alternate No. 1 adds 104 additional solar panels to the 79 solar panels included in the base bid. This maximizes the use of the available roof space.
• Alternate No. 2 adds a pre-engineered metal building garage to the project. The base bid does not include a garage. The proposed garage is 1,600 square feet and includes a separate electric service from the utility company for EV charging inside the garage for county equipment. (No longer an option due to City of Lakeville zoning requirements)
• Alternate No. 3 adds an 800-square-foot multi-purpose room for breakroom and training activities. It also converts lobby space to an additional public toilet room to support training activities and adds an additional 16 solar panels over the multi-purpose room. Previous changes to the facility design eliminated dedicated office space in favor of a multi-use space that can be used for office space, trainings, meetings, and as a break room. This is a more efficient use of the space, and is essential to the operations of the facility.
• Alternate No. 4a changes the finish on the lower portion of the precast panels from an acid etch finish to a form finish, giving a brick appearance to the precast. (Required due to City of Lakeville zoning requirements)
• Alternate No. 4b adds 20 window openings to provide natural lighting to the warehouse and allow the one-story building to appear as a two-story building. (Required due to City of Lakeville zoning requirements)
• Alternate No. 4c adds a 1,600-square-foot precast concrete garage, including a separate electric service from the utility company for EV charging inside the garage for county equipment. The garage is necessary to store the electric loader, associated attachments, and other required facility equipment indoors. Electric vehicles, which have been determined to be the most economical and safe choice for this facility, cannot be stored outdoors in the colder months. The addition of the garage will significantly increase the operational efficiency of the facility by eliminating the need to move the equipment in and out of the facility during hours of operation, freeing up valuable floor space in the main building for other operational needs.
Staff is recommending the approval of Alternates No. 1, 3, 4a, 4b, and 4c.
Staff and LHB, the project design firm, reviewed the bidder qualifications and found that Ebert Inc. has submitted the lowest responsive and responsible bid.
The construction is planned to begin in spring 2026 and will last approximately 12 months. Current funding is a combination of state grants, use of Environmental Legacy Fund fund balance, and a contribution from Dakota County’s project partner, Scott County.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends the bid for the Recycling Zone Plus be awarded to Ebert Inc. in an amount not to exceed $12,930,000 including Alternates No. 1, 3, 4a, 4b, and 4c.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The Facilities Capital Improvement Program Adopted Budget for the project includes total funding of $24,000,000, paid for from multiple sources. State funding is $8,000,000. The remaining is a split between the use of Environmental Legacy Fund fund balance and contributions from Scott County. Those amounts will be confirmed and amended pending the forthcoming Joint Powers Agreement with Scott County.
The Facilities Management operational costs for the new facility are estimated to be approximately $125,000 which will be funded by a combination of ELF and the Scott County Joint Powers Agreement. Overall operations of the facility are estimated to increase the Household Hazardous Waste budget by an estimated $833,000 per year (including the facility management operating costs above). On-going operations will be funded thorough a Joint Powers Agreement with Scott County (still in development) and the Environmental Legacy Fund.
☐ None ☒ Current budget ☐ Other
☐ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the Facilities Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Adopted Budget authorized the Recycling Zone Plus project; and
WHEREAS, the Recycling Zone Plus facility will be a 19,765-square-foot facility providing space for the sorting of reuse products from household hazardous waste, sorting by hazard categories, packing, bulking, weighing, and safe storage of hazardous waste. After check-in, patrons will have the option to drop off scrap metal, paper/cardboard, and tires themselves and then either exit the site or proceed to a covered drop-off area where staff will receive materials, including batteries, oil, paints, fluorescent lamps, and other household chemicals and products; and
WHEREAS, Dakota County's and Scott County’s existing household hazardous waste and recycling centers are insufficient to meet current and future needs. The two facilities properly manage almost seven million pounds of material per year from over 80,000 participants. Dakota County’s facility already handles four times the capacity it was designed to accommodate, and Scott County’s program growth is projected to be 325 percent by 2030; and
WHEREAS, a presentation of the schematic design work was shared for approval at the November 21, 2023, Physical Development Committee of the Whole Meeting; and
WHEREAS, bid documents and specifications were prepared by LHB and advertised on September 25, 2025; and
WHEREAS, bid documents were prepared by LHB, which included strategic alternates to provide options to the County Board for consideration; and
WHEREAS, eight competitive bids were received on October 16, 2025; and
WHEREAS, Ebert Inc. dba Ebert Companies, with a business address of 23350 Co Rd 10, Loretto, MN 55357, has submitted a bid of $12,930,000 for the base bid, including Alternates No. 1, 3, 4a, 4b, and 4c; and
WHEREAS, staff and LHB reviewed the qualifications of the bidder and recommend award to Ebert Inc. as the lowest responsive and responsible bidder, in an amount not to exceed $12,156,000, including Alternates No. 3, 4a, and 4b for the Recycling Zone Plus project; and
WHEREAS, funding for the project is within the approved CIP Adopted Budget total of $24,000,000.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Facilities Management Director to execute a contract with Ebert Inc., 23350 Co Rd 10, Loretto, MN 55357, in an amount not to exceed $12,156,000, for the Recycling Zone Plus project, subject to approval by the County Attorney’s office as to form; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County of Commissioners hereby award the bid and authorizes the Facilities Director to execute a contract with Ebert Corp for $580,000, to construct a garage at the Recycling Zone Plus Facility (Alternate No. 4c); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Dakota County of Commissioners hereby award the bid and authorizes the Facilities Director to execute a contract with Ebert Corp for $194,000, to install additional photovoltaic capacity at the Recycling Zone Plus Facility (Alternate No. 1).
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PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
24-462; 9/24/24
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Bid Tabulation
Attachment: Presentation Slides
BOARD GOALS
☐ Thriving People ☐ A Healthy Environment with Quality Natural Resources
☐ A Successful Place for Business and Jobs ☒ Excellence in Public Service
CONTACT
Department Head: Mike Lexvold
Author: Joe Lexa