By BOB SHRALUKA
WZBD.com
LC United Painting wasn’t the lowest bidder, but it has been awarded the contract to paint Decatur’s south water tower, off Line St.
Dixon Engineering, hired by the city to provide specifications for the project, recommended using the Sterling Heights, Michigan, firm, which painted the city’s east water tower last year.
Dixon’s Paul Spitzley (right in photo) attended the recent meeting of the Decatur Board of Works and Safety. He listed what he said were “some concerns” with the lowest bidder, E&L Contractors, which bid $223,900.
And since LC United had already painted Decatur’s east tower and satisfied local officials with its work, he said he would recommend staying with LC “since the second lowest bid wasn’t that much lower” than LC’s.
Fedewa Inc. had bid $239,999, while LC United’s bid was $248,000.
Three other bids were well over $300,000 and a seventh bid topped $400,000.
The $248,000 cost “was what I was hoping for, right in that range,” city Utilities Director Kevin Hackman (left in photo) said.
The tower’s new paint scheme will be the same as the east tower at Piqua Rd. and E. Monroe St., but without the Bellmont logo.
The city’s third water tower, at the city swimming pool, will be next in line for a new paint job.
