The Town Council voted 5-1 last week to approve a bid of nearly$1.5 million for improvements to the median on Avenue of the Fountains.

The council accepted the bid of Low Mountain Construction of $1,468,334 after two lower bids were determined to be disqualified.

Councilman Tait Elkie was absent from the meeting and Vice Mayor Cassie Hansen has consistently opposed the project mainly due to the potential destruction of the mature trees growing in the median.

Development Services Director Paul Mood said that bids provided by Shea-Connelly Development ($1.378 million) and J.E. Bowen Construction ($1.42 million) were disqualified.

Mood said he expects to issue a notice to proceed effective April 21, with a 180-day construction schedule. That would leave substantial completion by Sept. 18 and final completion Oct. 20.

However, Mood said to allow time for landscaping to become established they may not be able to re-open the median until after the November arts fair.

Also, it was noted that when construction begins later this month the median will be fenced until the release date in late fall.