The City of Houston opened three bids last week for a deep well, pump and elevated tank for the Houston Industrial Park.
The matter was discussed Monday during a meeting of the Houston City Council.
City Administrator Larry Sutton said bids totaling nearly $1 million were opened last Wednesday at Houston City Hall.
The city plans to drill a 1,200-foot deep well, install a pump and erect an elevated tank at the park, which is situated off West Highway 17.
The project is funded by a $150,000 grant from the Delta Regional Authority, a federally funded organization created to strengthen a region that includes Missouri; a $300,000 Community Development Block Grant; and funds from the City of Houston.
Sutton said the successful bidders are: Midwest Hydro, St. Clair, drilling, $98,328; Huey Construction, Fulton, well pump, control building and press reducing stations, $311,688; and Caldwell Tanks Inc., Louisville, Ky., elevated storage tank, $583,000.Â
The city hopes to issue notices to proceed to allow work to begin in early spring.
White River Engineering Inc. is the engineer on the project, which sustained some delays because the tower is south of the Houston Memorial Airport. FAA approval was required. Additional fees were billed, the city recently learned.
In other matters, members:
—Heard from Shane Blazier, who plans to start a taxi business that would serve Houston, Licking and Salem. Blazier must clear several requirements contained in city ordinances before a license can be issued. The laws outline such things as insurance and inspections.
—Appointed Jeremy St. John, a city reserve officer and firemen, to become the city’s emergency management director.
—Heard from Chris Rutledge of MoDOT related to projects pinpointed for Houston, including additional lanes that are set to be constructed on U.S. 63. Additionally, the city has secured funds for much of the cost of a sidewalk to run from Corner Express to Houston Walmart.
The Missouri Highways and Transportation Commission awarded a contract last year that will result in major improvements to U.S. 63 through Houston.
A $1,777,245 contract was awarded to Chester Bross Construction Co. of Hannibal for pavement improvements on U.S. 63 through Houston. Â
It was the second time the project had been bid. An earlier process resulted in higher than expected bids.
The effort includes the addition of new lanes through the community:
•Five lanes from First Street to Sonic Drive-In
•No changes from Sonic to Miller’s Grill.
•Three lanes from Miller’s Grill to the city limits south to near Indian Creek.
A $500,000 project to construct a sidewalk along U.S. 63 was not affected by the rebidding process.
The effort to construct the sidewalk from West Highway 17 near Corner Express to Houston Walmart Supercenter was among $3.1 million in projects to receive federal transportation alternative funds. The city will pay $100,000 of the project cost. Grant funding will pay the rest.
The city in a letter to MoDOT, delivered after the meeting, asked that a change order be allowed to do the sidewalk work at the same time of the highway improvements, whose timetable is not known. Safety reasons were outlined.
Rutledge wasn’t able to give a specific time as to when Bross might do the work. Most recently, the timeline has been pushed back.
—Heard from property owner Willy Walker related to the ownership status of old Highway 17 that runs in front of his home.
—Held the first reading of an ordinance to establish a low-interest loan fund for Houston businesses through Ozarks Small Business Incubator.
—Okayed an ordinance that changes the city’s utility cutoff from the 25th of each month to the 15th. Disconnections also will be made on Fridays.
—Authorized a $200 contribution to Houston Celebration for Life.
—Discussed designating a public relations officer for the City of Houston.
—Adjourned into a closed session to discuss property acquisition, as allowed by state law.