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Richmond approves $20,525 emergency replacement of water‑tower valve and hydrant
Summary
Council authorized $20,525 to replace an original valve and hydrant at the city water tower by Telto Contracting, waiving competitive bidding because the work must coincide with the tower being taken out of service.
The Richmond City Council on June 2 authorized $20,525 to replace a leaking main valve and hydrant at the base of the city’s water tower, approving a waiver of the purchasing ordinance so work can be coordinated while the tower is out of service.
Public Works staff told council the valve and hydrant date to the 1960s and that the valve currently permits flow‑by, necessitating keeping a hydrant open while the tower is offline. Staff said replacement can only be done while the tower is out of service and that local contractor Telto Contracting was available to perform the work during the tower’s scheduled outage; council cited the benefit of coordinating this work now rather than waiting years for the next outage window.
A council member moved to waive competitive bidding (section 64‑53(d)) and to authorize $20,525 to Telto Contracting, with the expense charged to the water fund; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call vote.
DPW Director Jim told council the hydrant and valve are original to the tower and replacing them now avoids repeated water flow during the outage. Council members described the work as routine capital maintenance necessary to keep the water system functioning.
