By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Bids for projects in the Hays Department of Water Resources are consistently lower than what has been budgeted. Reese Barrick, the newest city commissioner, is no longer surprised by that.
"I'm always happy that nearly every time we go out to bid something, it comes in quite a bit less than what you budgeted," Barrick said with praise for Jeff Crispin, water resources director. "I appreciate your work."
"Are you just doing that to make yourself look good?" Barrick joked with Crispin during last night's city commission meeting.
"No," Crispin replied with a smile. "I'd rather be right - very close."
Added Commissioner Shaun Musil, "With COVID overruns, I think it's pretty smart how you budgeted on that."
Musil was referring to the bid the commission approved for the 2022 manhole rehabilitation program. The city is in its fifth year of the program, averaging about 50 manholes each year.
This year's project will perform rehabilitation on manholes in the southwest part of Hays that were found to have crumbling or soft concrete, according to Crispin. The 50 manholes, estimated to be 80 years old, are located south of 6th Street between Elm and Milner.
The low bid of $83,558 was submitted by Mayer Specialty Services, Wichita. The company has performed the same work for the city the past three years. "They do an excellent job," Crispin told commissioners.
Due to the favorable bid, Crispin recommended awarding the project in an amount not to exceed the budgeted amount of $125,000. Fifteen additional manholes for rehabilitation have been identified to the north of the project area.
The project includes lining manholes with a cement-based mix that includes an alkaline-resistant fiberglass reinforcement called MS-2A. A strong geopolymer product will also be used in higher corrosion environment manholes.
"It costs between $1,500 and $3,000 to rehab a manhole," Crispin said, "and $15,000 or more to replace one, so it's obvious it makes good sense to keep up with our maintenance program."
There are approximately 2,400 manholes in Hays.
Commissioners also approved the low bid of $26,426 by Sidner Environmental Services, St. Louis, for a replacement water production soda ash feeder. The current feeder, which helps control alkalinity in the water softening process, is 48 years old and runs 24 hours a day.
This bid was also well below the $50,000 budgeted because of anticipated pandemic-increased costs.
City water employees will install the feeder which is similar to the current machinery.
Commissioner Sandy Jacobs was absent from the meeting.