Ellsworth council authorizes purchase of manhole rims, water boxes for High Street DOT project

The Ellsworth City Council on April 3 authorized purchases of manhole rims and covers, water boxes and three 12-inch live insertion valves to support the Maine Department of Transportation High Street paving project beginning Sunday.

Mike Harris, public works director, told the council the hardware purchases will be paid from funds reallocated from the Wall Street pump station project. “This money comes from money that was reallocated from the Wall Street pump station project,” Harris said, adding the DOT contract covers the labor to raise and lower manhole rims and water boxes but not the hardware itself.

The purchases authorized by motion were: 55 manhole rims and covers from EJ Prescott for $23,047.20; 40 water boxes from TI Sales for $7,360; and three 12-inch insertion valves including insulation from EJ Prescott for $57,321. The motion specified funding would come from reallocated 2023 general obligation bond funds designated for the High Street DOT project.

Council discussion clarified that the DOT contract provides labor to raise and lower the structures while the city supplies the physical hardware. Councilor Steve questioned whether the arrangement — city-supplied materials with DOT-paid labor — could create disputes over responsibility if hardware fails, and urged caution about splitting procurement across vendors. Harris and other councilors said the city has followed this practice on prior High Street work and that buying materials directly can be less expensive than paying a contractor markup. Harris said he solicited pricing from multiple suppliers and recommended the lowest bids.

The item was advertised as a public hearing; no members of the public spoke. Councilor Tammy moved the authorization; a councilor seconded. The motion passed (vote tally not specified in the record). The public works department will proceed with procurement so materials are available when DOT begins work.