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Wheeler council approves low bid to replace aging mains, add hydrants and pressure vault
Summary
The Wheeler City Council approved awarding the Water Distribution System Improvement Project to the low bidder after hearing a presentation on scope, schedule and safety measures. The work will replace mains on Pennsylvania Avenue, add hydrants and install a pressure-reducing vault; construction is expected to take about 150 days once it starts.
The Wheeler City Council on Nov. 18 moved to award the Water Distribution System Improvement Project to the low bidder after a presentation by consulting engineer Ed Hodges.
Hodges told the council a bid-opening on Oct. 30 drew 15 bidders and the lowest bid came in just above $900,000. The project will replace aging mains on Pennsylvania Avenue and adjacent side streets, install new 8-inch C900 pipe on the main corridor, add fire hydrants and construct a pressure-reducing vault (PRV) to connect the city’s two pressure zones and improve low-area flows in fire events. Hodges said the council’s remaining loan funds (about $300,000) could be used to extend work to other problem areas.
Ken Hill, who identified himself as the water system DRC and an operator on the original system 22 years ago, questioned the need for a second PRV. Hodges said hydraulic modeling shows the interconnection will improve available flow for the lower business district in emergency situations. Hodges also said the project will replace roughly 2,000 feet of pipe in the Pennsylvania corridor, include some side-street work on Third Street (Spruce to Hemlock) and add or replace several hydrants.
A resident raised health concerns about cutting and disposing of older asbestos-cement (AC) pipe. Hodges said the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) procedures for handling AC pipe will be followed, contractors will take dust-control measures, and the city will test water for AC before and after work to avoid making a preexisting condition worse.
Hodges gave a 150-calendar-day contract period; he estimated that, if approved, the contractor would mobilize in December or January and finish by spring. Councilor [mover recorded in the meeting minutes] moved to accept the low bidder and authorize contracting steps including bonding and insurance; the motion passed on a council vote.
The council did not adopt a detailed phasing plan at the meeting; Hodges said staff would return with progress updates and that the contractor planned to sequence work to limit business disruption on Highway 101 and to communicate closures in advance.
