City permit center manager Marc Hayes proposed to the Arlington City Council April 11 that they reject all bids, and re-bid it around the fall.

When public bidding opened March 29, Reece Trucking and Excavating was the only construction company to submit a bid, at $499,250.

This was well outside of the city’s cost estimate of $284,623. Funding by $158,473 from the Community Development Block Grant program, plus $50,000 each from Snohomish County Parks and the city.

Councilwoman Debora Nelson said the time of year likely affected the bid, noting that plumbers have charged thousands of dollars more for work this spring than they’ve done in the fall.

“It’s also my experience that contractors who submit a bid that high above the estimate aren’t really interested in doing the work anyway,” Councilman Mike Hopson said.

The council will vote on whether to reject the bid April 18.