The Safety Harbor City Commission on Sept. 15 approved a contract award to Left Coast Utilities Corp. for the Seminole Park and Maple Way water main replacement project, authorizing $1,997,177 including contingency.

Michelle Giuliani, engineering director, told commissioners that five bids were received and staff determined Left Coast Utilities to be responsive and qualified. "City staff recommends an approval of contract with Left Coast Utilities in the amount of $1,815,615 plus a contingency for a total amount of $1,997,177," Giuliani said.

The nut graf: the award funds a water-main replacement project the engineering department solicited this summer; the commission approved the recommended low bidder and a 10% contingency to cover unforeseen conditions during construction.

Commissioners asked whether Left Coast (also working on a nearby Elm and Cedar streets project) had performed satisfactorily; staff said they believed the contractor's ongoing work on the west side of the project was satisfactory. The motion to award the contract passed 5-0.

Next steps: staff will execute the contract and manage the construction timeline; the contingency will be used only for approved change orders. The commission was told the engineer-recommended award reflects the scope, site conditions and timeline understood by the recommended contractor.