Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Water Infrastructure topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Paragonah hires Ensign Engineering; council and engineers debate tank design, bids and restoration
Summary
The council approved hiring Ensign Engineering to provide construction engineering services for the Paragonah Town Water Improvement Project; members and consultants debated whether to use concrete or bolted steel tanks, bid timing and contractor responsibilities for restoration and liability.
Paragonah’s Town Council voted to hire Ensign Engineering to provide construction engineering services for the town’s Water Improvement Project and then heard a detailed presentation and discussion about design choices, bidding and site restoration.
The hiring motion was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote. Council members and contractors discussed transitioning part of the work from Sunrise to Ensign, a two‑cycle bid schedule, pre‑bid coordination and the state procurement rule that typically requires awarding to the lowest responsive bidder unless the bid is found non‑responsive.
Per state procurement guidance, a presenter said: “Per state code, we do typically have to go with lowest bid unless we can deem them non responsive.” The council agreed to coordinate pre‑bid meetings and vet contractors together with the county/state representatives.
Engineers and members debated tank material. Council members noted bolted steel tanks can be significantly less expensive than some concrete designs; the chair observed that the steel option “is probably about 30% less going with steel,” and contractors described post‑tension concrete options intended to improve seismic performance. Councilors asked staff to review geotechnical findings before finalizing tank type, and to confirm who bears liability when an engineering firm takes over work mid‑project.
The meeting also covered access and restoration commitments for private property the line crosses, with staff noting the contract should include clauses requiring restoration “to as was previously” condition after construction and that easements and coordination with landowners would be included in the specifications.
Why it matters: the water‑project engineering choice affects construction cost, seismic resilience and long‑term maintenance. Council approved the engineering contract so Ensign can begin work on bids and permitting; members directed staff and engineers to review designs, geotechnical recommendations and liability responsibilities before construction proceeds.
Next steps: staff will circulate plan sets to Ensign and review specifications, schedule pre‑bid coordination, and finalize bid documents. The council also discussed available supplemental funding for pipe replacement and water meters that could be applied to portions of the project.
