Bids beat estimates in Dunkirk

DUNKIRK - Bids on major water system improvements appear to be below engineers' estimates.

That was the view of engineers and Dunkirk City Council members Monday afternoon as 12 bid documents were opened - six for the water treatment plant renovations and six for water main improvements.

Apparent low bidders were R.E. Crosby Inc., Fort Wayne, for water plant improvements totaling $995,000; and RCM Excavating LLC, Gaston, for the water main work, $345,005.80.

Schneider Corporation engineers Paul Vincent and Dann Barrett said their original estimate for the water plant project was between $1 million and $1,250,000. The estimate for the water main work was between $500,000 and $600,000, they said.

Consequently, both low bids were well within the city's cost range, Vincent pointed out.

Once the bids were opened and the totals announced, Vincent and Barrett took the bid documents for review. Vincent said he expected to have a recommendation in about a week. The project should get under way by the middle of May, Vincent said.

Other bidders on the water plant improvement project included: Gerig-Ottenweller Contracting LLC, Fort Wayne, $998,000; M.K. Betts Engineering and Contracting Inc., Anderson, $1,066,000; Shinn Brothers Inc., Celina, Ohio, $1,074,000; Muhlehkamp Building Corp., Celina, Ohio, $1,112,000, and Mid-States, Redkey, $1,390,000.

Also bidding on the water main improvements were: Keith Sullivan Excavating Inc., Marion, $401,154; Watson Excavating, Redkey, $488,256; A. Landon Excavating, Portland, $566,633; Atlas Excavating Inc., West Lafayette, $558,870; and Brackney Inc., Brookville, $615,451.

Also present at the bid opening was Jay County Community Development director Ami Huffman, who worked with state and city officials to obtain a $642,500 grant for the project through the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs.

In addition the city will be receiving an Indiana State Revolving Fund loan to help pay for the overall project, Huffman said.[[In-content Ad]]