Board advances water, wastewater and sidewalk projects; awards and contract steps cleared
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Summary
La Porte’s Board of Public Works on April 22 authorized water service work on Eighth Street, advanced a headworks procurement recommendation, opened sidewalk bids for Madison Street and approved a Schneider Electric change order as part of ongoing utilities and street projects.
The La Porte City Board of Public Works on April 22 approved several actions related to water, wastewater and street-side infrastructure, including authorization for localized water service improvements, advancing a headworks procurement process for the wastewater plant, opening sidewalk bids on a Madison Street project, and approving a final change order to close out a prior Schneider Electric contract.
Water: Water Superintendent Tim Warner told the board that two homes on Eighth Street between Fifth and Sixth Street are experiencing low-pressure problems caused by old galvanized service lines running through alleys. Two homeowners agreed to bring their services to the front of the houses; the city will bore lines from the Fifth/High intersection to serve both properties and reduce restoration impacts. Warner estimated the cost to bore both services would likely be between $4,000 and $5,000 and asked the board to approve proceeding; the board approved the work.
Wastewater and headworks procurement: Wastewater staff reported they received three statements of qualifications for a headworks project from Kokosing, Bowen and Schneider Electric. After evaluating submissions and reference checks, staff recommended moving to contract discussions with Kokosing as the top-ranked firm under a guaranteed savings/open-book approach. The board authorized staff to proceed to contract negotiations with Kokosing and to return the negotiated contract to the board for review and approval; staff noted budget and contract terms must be acceptable before final award.
Sidewalks and bids: Staff opened two bids for sidewalks on Madison Street (between Lincoln Way and First Street and portions of Maple, Harrison and Jefferson). Bids received were $250,772 from Pavey Excavating and $329,899.03 from Reith-Riley; staff asked the board for time to review bid completeness and to award the contract at the next Board of Works meeting (May 6). The board granted that request.
Contract closeout: Staff presented a negative change order of $22,050 for a Schneider Electric project to close out contract accounting; the board approved the change order.
Payments: The board approved a pay application (numbered in staff materials) for the WHP Training Towers construction; the transcript noted the item and the board approved payment, though the transcript contained conflicting audible dollar figures in that exchange and the exact amount should be verified in the official pay application paperwork.
Board members and staff said the projects are part of ongoing routine infrastructure maintenance and improvements; staff will return to the board with negotiated contract documents, final bid analyses and verified pay-application figures.
