Council approves $32,000 change order to receive nanofiltration skids for southern Gautier water plant

The Gautier City Council on March 18 approved change order No. 1 to allow the contractor to receive, offload, stack, inventory and store premanufactured nanofiltration treatment skids for the city's southern water treatment plant.

City staff told the council the treatment skids were completed by the manufacturer and could not be stored indefinitely by the vendor. The contractor awarded the building contract — identified in the presentation as the party that will ultimately install the skids — offered to accept delivery and handle storage to preserve warranties and ensure proper handling.

City staff said the contractor quoted roughly $32,000 to offload the equipment, stack and cover it, and protect it until the building contractor is ready to install the skids. The council discussed timing: construction of the building was expected to begin after a pre-bid or pre-construction conference, with an estimated notice-to-proceed window the presenter described as roughly 250 to 350 days out; the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was identified as providing construction oversight for the overall project.

Council members asked whether the city would need to pay a separate vendor again to move the skids from the temporary storage to the installation site; staff said the primary contractor under the Corps contract is responsible to move and install the equipment under the construction contract. The council approved the change order on a motion by Councilman Gillette, seconded by Councilman College.

City officials said once the skids are removed from the vendor they will be placed into covered storage behind the city's utility building and later retrieved by the contractor for installation. Staff committed to issuing press updates to the public as the Corps and contractor provide new information.