Walkersville approves line-painting, awards repave contract after valve failure

Walkersville commissioners on Oct. 8 approved two public-works items: awarding a line-painting contract covering Frederick Street, Glade Road and Glade Village, and awarding a repaving contract for the Polaris Drive / Capricorn Road intersection after a water-main valve failure.

Deputy public works staff told commissioners the town obtained two close estimates for line painting and attempted to secure a third. Commissioners noted the town already maintains a contract with the lower bidder and the quotes were similar; they moved to award the work to the incumbent contractor. The chair read the motion to select RFP for the line painting package including Glade Village for a total recorded in the meeting as $24,450; the motion passed unanimously (vote read 5-0).

On the Polaris/Capricorn intersection, staff said a water-main valve blew apart, undermining the roadway, and recommended replacing three additional valves before repaving. The commission approved awarding RFP 2000204 for repaving and valve replacement (motion passed 5-0).

Commissioners discussed traffic-calming benefits of the Glade Village striping and cautioned that adding Glade Village could prompt similar requests from other neighborhoods. The deputy director noted that line painting prices reflect not only linear footage but crosswalks and associated work; he offered to provide a detailed estimate breakdown for commissioners.

"My only caution is if we do Glade Village, it is likely that we're going to have other communities come in and ask to do line painting," one commissioner said during discussion.

Next steps: staff will issue the notices to proceed to the selected contractor for line painting and will authorize valve replacement and repaving work at Polaris Drive and Capricorn Road under RFP 2000204.