ONTONAGON – Ontonagon village will rebid the paddlecraft landing project planned for Rose Island since a previous bid came in well above estimates.

Angelo Lupino offered to knock $15,000 off his initial $91,573.80 sole bid for the entire project, but the Village Council decided the figure is still too high.

After reworking the project to remove an expensive pit toilet from the plan, the village will advertise for a new round of bids, hoping to get one nearer to the estimated cost of $66,000.

“Let’s make it competitive,” said Village President Ken Waldop. He wanted to invite more bidders for the revised project.

Lupino’s bid was $30,000 for the pit toilet, and quoted high prices on concrete and blacktop, Village Manager Joe Erickson said.

Erickson said the toilet, as planned, could be put in later, or the village could purchase a portable toilet that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act to add to its fleet of six regular portable toilets used for various events.

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources will have to approve the revised plan before the bids can be solicited.

Rose Island resident Tom Hamilton renewed his opposition to the plan, which is expected to proceed following the acceptance of a bid proposal.

“It’s ‘Field of Dreams,'” Waldrop said. “If you build it, they will come.”