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Mooresville staff seek council approval for $8.75 million Reeds Creek pump station contract
Summary
Town staff recommended awarding a construction contract to Brushy Mountain Builders for a new Reeds Creek pump station that would double capacity from 5 million to 10 million gallons; the award is planned to be considered at the next council meeting and is contingent on NCDEQ approval and funding.
Mooresville Town Council staff asked the council on Oct. 1 to adopt a resolution awarding a construction contract not to exceed $8,750,000 to Brushy Mountain Builders Inc. to build a new Reeds Creek pump station and demolish the existing station, contingent on approval from the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) Division of Water Infrastructure.
Assistant Town Manager Ryan Race told the council the project would double the station's capacity from 5,000,000 gallons to 10,000,000 gallons and noted the town received more than $3.5 million in funding from the North Carolina Drinking Water and Wastewater State Reserve toward the work. Race said the low bid of $8,750,000 was from Brushy Mountain Builders and described the firm as a past contractor for the town: “We feel really good about that because Brushy Mountain's done actually a couple, projects for us in the past.”
Council members pressed staff for more background after seeing a wide spread among the three bids received — the high bid approached $15,000,000. Commissioners said the $3 million-plus difference was significant and asked for reference checks and further documentation before final award. Race said construction administration and related services are on the consent agenda, and if the council is not comfortable moving forward at the posted amount staff will return those items to a future consent agenda or delay the award.
Staff told the council the construction schedule accounts for long lead times on pumps and variable frequency drives (VFDs), and that the planned contract duration is 660 days. Race said the station is located just behind the municipal golf course clubhouse and that the town held a public meeting for nearby residents to address odor-control questions raised by neighbors who had previous concerns about lift-station odor. Council members asked staff to provide a proactive community outreach plan and a point of contact for construction and odor or traffic complaints.
No formal contract award vote was recorded during the Oct. 1 discussion. Staff indicated they will ask the council to award the contract at the next council meeting; the NCDEQ approval remains a contingency for moving forward.
The agenda and staff presentation listed the low bid amount and the NCDEQ funding source; staff stated the bids exceeded earlier cost estimates and attributed the higher prices to contractor demand and unstable material and equipment costs.
If the council votes to award the contract at the subsequent meeting, staff said construction administration items currently on consent would also proceed; staff said they will provide additional reference and procurement documentation for Brushy Mountain Builders prior to final action.
