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Waterville approves bids and awards contract for new fire hall, retains underwriter for bond refunding
Summary
Waterville officials received bid results for a new fire hall, approved Resolution 2025R-009 to award contracts for a roughly $5 million project (with a 9.5% construction contingency), and authorized DA Davidson as underwriter for related refunding bonds. A joint follow-up meeting was set for May 8, 2025.
Waterville City Council and the Waterville Economic Development Authority voted April 14 to accept low bidders and award contracts for a new fire hall project estimated at about $5 million and to retain DA Davidson as underwriter for bond refunding tied to the project.
The project will use trade-specific contracts. Collin Bennett of Knutson Construction announced the apparent low bidders across the advertised packages, including Met-Con Companies (general trades; concrete; pre-engineered metal building and erection), J&K Masonry (unit masonry), Kendell Doors (doors, frames & hardware), Ford Metro (entrances and glazing), Quality Overhead Door (overhead doors), Pietsch Construction (gypsum board), Palmer Soderberg (tiling and acoustical ceilings), Reichel Painting Company (painting), Olympic Fire Protection (fire suppression), Superior Mechanical (HVAC and plumbing), Elite Electrical Innovations (electrical and low-voltage systems), Timm’s Trucking & Excavating (earthwork and utilities), and Erosion Control (landscaping).
Bennett described how the project budget includes a contingency “bucket” for unforeseen conditions, equal to 9.5% of the trade and contingency subtotal for the roughly $5 million project. When Council Member Tim Smith asked why APX was disqualified from a pre-engineered building package, Bennett said, “they didn’t meet the deadline for substitution requests.”
Fire Chief Meskan said he believed a building permit would not be required because the city owns the building; Administrator-Clerk Teresa Hill corrected that, saying a state building permit is required for this project, not a city permit. That clarification was recorded during discussion before the formal vote.
Council Member David Wollin moved, and Scott Potter seconded, approval of Resolution 2025R-009 Receiving Bids and Awarding Contract on the 2025 Fire Hall; the motion carried 4-0. The EDA separately voted to accept an engagement letter from DA Davidson to provide underwriting and serve as fiscal agent for refunding bonds supporting the project (EDA motion by William Conlin, seconded by Scott Potter; vote 4-0). The EDA set a joint meeting for May 8, 2025, with a preference for a 4:00 p.m. start.
The council and EDA recorded no dissent on the award votes. The EDA adjourned at 4:23 p.m.; the council adjourned at 4:25 p.m.
