Oak Ridge approves negotiated contract and capital ordinance for elevated water tank

The Town of Oak Ridge Town Council on Aug. 1 approved a negotiated contract of $2,989,250 with Caldwell Tanks to construct a 250,000‑gallon elevated water storage tank and adopted a capital project ordinance to budget $3,345,450 for the project.

Council members and staff described the tank as a foundational step in creating a municipal water system that will improve fire suppression and support future water main extensions. Town staff said the negotiated price reflects removal of a short length of water line from the tank contract at the engineer’s suggestion; that removed work reduced the tank bid by roughly $400,000 and is expected to be added later to the town’s water‑main project at an estimated additional cost of about $200,000, yielding an overall net savings to the town compared with the original low bid.

Town Manager presentation and staff materials show the lowest responsive bid before negotiation was $3,383,000. Staff said the town and its engineer, working with Caldwell Tanks, negotiated the contract to the $2,989,250 figure and recommended council approve that negotiated award.

The council then approved a capital project ordinance (Resolution R2024‑12) to budget the tank construction, a 5% contingency, and construction administration fees. Staff reported the revenues to fund the ordinance include $3,265,000 in Guilford County ARPA funds and $80,000 drawn from the town’s prior allocation from the regional water study, bringing the total appropriation to $3,345,450 as reflected in the ordinance.

Council members and residents praised the vote as a long‑term infrastructure step. Councilmember Mitch Schneider said the project was “a fantastic win” and emphasized the grant funding that made the project possible. Resident Spencer Sullivan and resident George McClellan, both long‑time water‑system advocates, spoke during public comment in support of the council’s action.

Council and staff discussed interim service and maintenance. Staff told council the tank will terminate the current construction roughly 100 feet from the tower location and that a hydrant will be installed at the parking‑lot turnaround; Fire Chief Gibson reviewed the plan and raised no objection to using that hydrant while the separate water‑main work proceeds. Staff provided recurring maintenance estimates: interior cleaning every 2–3 years at roughly $15,000; painting the tower every ~20 years at an estimated $100,000–$200,000; and approximate routine upkeep of about $5,000 per year (not including electricity). Council members noted that long‑term maintenance costs are part of the town’s ongoing infrastructure obligations.

The contract award and the capital project ordinance passed on voice votes (recorded as “ayes have it”); no roll‑call tally was recorded in the transcript for these items.

The council packet and staff presentation identify Wooten Companies as project manager/engineer on construction administration and list Caldwell Tanks as the construction contractor under the negotiated award. Staff said the water‑tank construction will support future phases including a proposed water main along Highway 150 that staff expects may be largely grant funded.

The council’s approval authorizes the town manager to finalize and execute the negotiated construction contract and to implement the capital project ordinance; staff will return with contract documents and construction‑period reporting as required by the ordinance and grant conditions.