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Town approves electrical contract and engineering task order for water storage tank rehab
Summary
The Red Hook Town Board approved an electrical contract for the water storage tank and a not-to-exceed engineering task order to oversee construction-phase work, while debating project oversight, funding and sale of surplus district parcels to offset costs.
The Red Hook Town Board voted June 9 to award the electrical contract for the town’s water storage tank rehabilitation and to approve a construction-phase engineering task order so the project can move forward this summer.
The board approved a $64,500 electrical contract to Huitt Young after staff and the town engineer found other low bids noncompliant with procurement rules (contractors duplicated totals across separate trade forms required under state law). Town Board member Christina seconded the motion; the measure passed on a unanimous voice roll-call.
Why it matters: the storage-tank project is the largest near-term capital expense facing the town’s water utility. Board discussion showed tension between urgency — to secure financing and complete the paint-and-rehab work during fair-weather months — and members’ requests for more detailed qualifications and oversight documentation for the specialized subcontractor who will monitor coating and confined‑space work.
Brandy Nelson, the town’s planning and grants consultant, and the engineering team described the project budget as roughly $1.05 million for construction and related costs. The board said the district has about $400,000 in reserves and expects additional contributions but the transcript contains differing amounts cited for the expected outside contribution (the figure given ranged between $100,000 and $200,000 in board remarks). The town will borrow the remaining balance and finalize loan terms now that the task order is in place.
Engineer oversight: the approved task order (TNB Engineering) is an hourly not-to-exceed agreement to provide construction observation, submittal and RFI review, pay‑application review and certified coating inspection by a specialty subcontractor. Several board members asked for the inspector’s statement of qualifications before finalizing work; staff agreed to circulate the subcontractor’s redacted proposal and qualifications to the board.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 28 (electrical contract award to Huitt Young, $64,500) — moved by the Supervisor, seconded by Christina — approved unanimously. Resolution 29 (TNB engineering task order, not to exceed $18,000) — moved by the Supervisor — approved unanimously.
Next steps: Staff will transmit the engineering subcontractor’s qualifications to board members, finalize loan closing paperwork to lock an interest rate, and coordinate construction phasing so the tank can be taken offline and the coating work scheduled for a continuous period this summer.
Funding and other town actions: the Water District board asked the town to consider selling five surplus district parcels to help offset the tank financing burden; the town board agreed to refer the proposal to the Community Preservation Fund advisory committee for review and possible action rather than approving a sale tonight.
