City accepts bid for downtown sewer project

The low bid of $658,468.50 from Orr Wyatt Streetscapes of Raytown, Mo., for a downtown sanitary sewer, storm sewer and pavement replacement project was approved by the Concordia city commission during its regular meeting on Wednesday.
Ken Johnson, Campbell & Johnson Engineers, PA, reported to the commission that three bids had been submitted for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) project and that Orr Wyatt Streetscapes was the low bidder by about $80,000.
The engineers estimated cost for the project was $845,115.
The project includes replacing the six-inch clay sanitary sewer line and 18-inch clay storm sewer pipe and the regrade of the alley pavement in the alleys between Sixth Street and Seventh Street from Lincoln Street to State Street.
It was announced in January of 2020 that Concordia would receive $561,000 in CDBG funds for the project, which requires a 50-percent local cash match from the city.
The commission approved using funds from the capital improvement fund and the water fund along with Tax Increment Financing dollars for the match.
Johnson reported to the commission that he contacted three of the references provided by Orr Wyatt Streetscapes.
Orr Wyatt Streetscapes is currently working on a $1.5 million water line project in Washington, Kan.
“I talked to their city manager, and their city manger was very happy with the company,” Johnson said.
Johnson said he also talked to people in Olathe and Sedan about projects completed by Orr Wyatt Streetscapes.
“I feel like they are a company that we can benefit from having the low bid,” Johnson said.
Campbell & Johnson Engineers recommended accepting the low bid on the project from Orr Wyatt Streetscapes.
Work on the project is expected to begin on March 15 and be completed by September 1.
Johnson said that Campbell & Johnson Engineers will send out a construction notice prior to the start of the project to the 52 downtown businesses and the residents that will be impacted.
In other action taken during the meeting, the commission approved Mayor Chuck Lambertz to sign the authority to award contract and commitment of city funds in the amount of $73,000 for a pavement replacement project in the southbound lanes of U.S. Highway 81 from the south city limits to 500 feet north of College Drive.
The outside southbound lane of the highway has broken and settled in many places, creating a rough driving service.
It was determined that the pavement needs to be replaced and any other issues corrected.
The city received $1 million in funding through the Kansas Department of Transportation’s Connecting Link Improvement Program for preliminary engineering, construction engineering and construction of the project and is required to contribute up to 10 percent of the project costs plus anything over $1 million.
Vogts-Parga Construction, LLC, Newton, submitted the low bid of $617,869 for the project.
Adopting an ordinance annexing non-contiguous land located at 1436 Trail Road into the city and adopting a development agreement for the land and having the mayor sign it were approved by the commission during the meeting.
Cary and Diane Stupka applied to have the land, located north of Concordia, annexed into the city.
During its meeting on January 6, the commission adopted a resolution asking the Cloud County board of commissioners to “find and determine that the requested annexation will not hinder or prevent the proper growth and development of the area or that of any other incorporated city located within the county.”
The county commission made the requested determination during its January 19 meeting.
Annexing the land into the city requires redefining the city limit legal description that will be duly recorded to the Cloud County Register of Deeds and the United States Census Bureau.
The land is required to be zoned as the most restrictive zoning the city has upon annexation, which is R-1 Low Density Residential District.
The development agreement approved by the commission states that the property owners will pay $800 for a one-inch-sized water tap, $160 for the sanitary sewer saddle and $10 for the sewer tap fee. The city Utilities Department will provide the labor to install the water tap and meter pit and install the saddle for sewer tap.
The property owners will install the private lines to the existing house.
Purchasing a 2020 Ford Escape SE AWD for the Public Works Department from Farm Country Ford at a cost of $23,145 was approved by the commission. It will replace the 2011 Chevrolet Impala.
The commission also approved a bid from Hood Heating Air Plumbing Electric of $45,508 for the purchase and installation of LED lighting for the tennis courts in City Park.
Hood will install four new poles and bases, 16 LED lights and arms and new underground wiring.
Public Works director Ron Copple said that city staff would remove the old poles.
The commission met in executive session for the purpose of discussing confidential business data with Copple, city manager Amy Lange, city attorney Justin Ferrell and Ryan Kueker.