EVERETT – The Everett City Council voted to award a $14.2 million contract to a Texas company to build a water tower and pump house near Casino Road – even though it’s more than double the engineer’s estimate of less than $6 million.
Landmark Structures Management Inc. of Fort Worth, Texas, made the lowest of three bids from contractors for the project, which includes construction of a new 2 million-gallon water tower.
“Industry-wide, it’s a contractor’s market, more or less,” said Mark Sadler, an Everett utilities engineer.
Seasonal demand, the complexity of the project and the risks and challenges associated with pump station construction were cited as key reasons for the higher-than-expected bids.
The city’s decision not to re-bid the project in an attempt to secure a lower price was prompted by a report from Tank Industry Consultants of Indianapolis.
The consultant, which is in charge of engineering work for the replacement tower, said re-bidding historically does not result in lower prices, and it noted that Landmark Structures’ bid was $3 million less than those of the next two bidders.
When complete, the new 120- to 130-foot-tall tower should provide better water pressure for firefighters and people living in apartments along Casino Road and a few other areas, said Jim Ozanne, project engineer.
It also will increase the immediately available water from about 750,000 gallons to 2 million gallons.
Sadler said the cost of the project was included in the city’s 2000 capital facilities plan, and will not result in increased water rates. Service should not be disrupted during the two-year construction period. Work could begin as soon as fall.
Reporter David Chircop: 425-339-3429 or dchircop@heraldnet.com.
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