By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
Bids for four maintenance projects in the Hays Department of Water Resources were discussed last week during the city commission work session.
Jeff Crispin, director of water resources, presented information for purchase of a lime slaker used in the process to remove impurities in the city's water, two portable generators for water production wells and sewer lift stations, 22 miles of sanitary sewer cleaning and inspection, and rehabilitation of six water wells.
It's nothing fancy, just necessary maintenance, according to City Manager Toby Dougherty.
"We can do that because several years ago the city commission put in a multi-tier rate increase for water and wastewater [customers]," he said. "One, to help pay for the new wastewater facility, but, two, to take care of maintenance like this."
"Up until we had this money, it wasn't that we didn't have the need. It was because we didn't have the money to take care of our stuff," Dougherty said. "It's always cheaper to take care of it than it is to replace it. It's always cheaper to put a new lining in a sewer pipe than it is to dig it up and replace it."
Dougherty said the city appreciates having the maintenance money and Crispin was directed to "figure out and get ahead" of the needs.
"He's done a really good job of that. Kudos to him."
Mayor Sandy Jacobs and Commissioner Shaun Musil told Crispin they appreciate his explanation of the water resources projects to the commission.
"For those of us not in that business, it's easy to understand and that's very much appreciated," Musil said.
"You present it in such a way that I actually understand it when I go home," Jacobs said. "My husband will ask me a question now and then that I can actually answer."
The recommended low bids are:
* $119,000 from Integrity Municipal Systems, Poway, Calif., for a replacement lime slaker
* $94,705 from Foley Power Solutions, Topeka, for two portable generators, one each for water production and water reclamation
* $108,937 from Pipe Detectives, Jamestown, N.D., for light cleaning and video inspection of 22 miles of sanitary sewer line
* $65,246 from Downey Drilling, Lexington, Neb., for rehabilitation of four city water wells and two Smoky Hill River wells near Schoenchen
Commissioners also heard from John Braun, project manager, about a bid award for improvements to the intersection of 230th Avenue and 55th Street north of Interstate 70 Exit 157.
At the request of Ellis County, the city in December 2019 assumed responsibility for a $1.5 million Kansas Department of Transportation economic development project grant.
The project will be paid by the KDOT funds with any overage paid by the developer of the Hays Truck Plaza, D&J Land and Development LLC.
The low bid of $1,878,301 is from Hess Services, Hays. The construction engineering agreement with Driggs Design, Hays, at a cost of of $140,800 puts the total project cost at $2 million.
All project costs will be reimbursed to the city by the KDOT grant and the developer.
Commissioners will consider approving all the project bids at their meeting Thursday.
The complete agenda is available here.
The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. in Hays City Hall, 1507 Main.