Xenia approves $2.23 million water-main and storm-sewer contract for North King Street

The Xenia City Council voted June 11 to award a contract to Milcon Concrete Inc. for water-main replacement and storm-sewer repairs on North King Street, following city staff and engineer recommendations.

City Manager Merriman said the project design covers North King from West Church Street to West Ankeny Mill Road and that the engineer’s estimate for the utilities portion was $2,056,180. The city received three bids; the apparent low bidder, Milcon Concrete, exceeded the engineer’s estimate by $173,627 (about 8.4 percent). Merriman said staff completed reference checks and found successful work in nearby jurisdictions and county utilities.

Mister Duke, the finance director, told council that financing a $1.4 million cash payment would harm the water fund and that staff will return with financing options later this year (either a capital lease or revenue bond through ODWA or similar). Merriman said the finance director has charter authority to transfer funds, and staff recommended transferring $100,000 from another water-project line item to provide margin for contingencies.

Council asked about traffic disruptions. Merriman said the contractor must provide a maintenance-of-traffic plan and that localized access will be preserved, but “there will, without question, be some disruption,” adding the work is a temporary inconvenience for a long-term gain.

On roll call the council approved the resolution authorizing execution of the contract and the associated budget transfer to move the project forward. Staff said construction is expected to begin after contract execution and pre-construction scheduling, with road restoration planned as part of the 2027 street program.

Next steps: execute the contract with Milcon Concrete, hold a pre-construction meeting with the contractor to set a construction schedule, and return to council with options to finance the water portion of the project.