By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
Four contracts totaling just over $17 million have been awarded by the City of Decatur as it moves ever closer to the start of a huge water project.
Everyone involved in the federally-mandated project was pleased with the bids.
“These were incredible bids on all four projects (the overall project has been divided into four phases),” Engineer/Consultant Ben Adams told city council at its recent meeting.
All four were under cost estimates provided by engineers, according to Adams, project manager with Commonwealth Engineering of Fort Wayne.
The contracts:
VTF Excavation, Celina, Ohio, $2,615,839.20.
Yarberry Companies, Anderson, $3,272,890.00.
S&S Directional Boring, Bryan, Ohio,
$3,390,000.00.
Watson Excavating, Redkey, $7,185,925.00.
The four total $17,189,529
In all, a total of 19 bids were received for the four phases. The four selected were the lowest bids in that particular phase.
With the under-estimate bids and a financial plan reworked by Adams, even more lead service lines then were originally identified
are now targeted. At least1,000 lines will be replaced, according to Adams.
So, too, will over a thousand aged water mains be removed.
The project is being funded through 35-year bonds.
The project could begin this month. It is expected to continue into the summer of 2027.
VTF Excavation will work Second and Monroe streets, while Yharberry’s work will involve Eighth through Eleventh streets, Jefferson and Madison streets.
S&S Boring will work around Elm and Adams streets, as well as an area of Winchester Road.
The Redkey firm, Watson Excavating, will be replacing the 1,000-plus lead service lines.
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