By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
More than half of the bids to paint Decatur’s south water tower came in higher than expected. Three however, were reasonably close, providing hope that the work can be done this year.
A total of seven bids were submitted and read aloud at the recent city council meeting, with all taken under advisement, giving Utilities Director Kevin Hackman time to scrutinize them to determine if they meet specifications.
The tower, off Line St., will be getting the same color scheme as the one at Piqua Rd. and E. Monroe St. received last year, but without a Bellmont school logo (see photo).
It was estimated at an earlier council meeting that this paint job might run as high as approximately $220,000. That was said to be higher than the cost for the Piqua Rd. water tower because the Line St. tower is much older and structurally different.
E&L Contractors had the low bid for the upcoming project, $223,900. Fedewa Inc. came in next, at $239,999, followed by LC United Painting at $248,000.
Three other bidders – G&L Sandblasting & Coating, Viking Painting, and Osseo Construction – were substantially over $300,000. A bid by 7 Brothers Painting topped $400,000.
Dixon Engineering prepared the project specs for the city.
After the Line St. tower is completed, the city’s third water tower, by the city swimming pool off Fifth St. will be next in line. “We’re committed to doing one a year,” Hackman said at an earlier meeting.