Crescent-News.com - Napoleon approves near $7M bid for basin project

By JARED ORZOLEK

orzolek@crescent-news.com

NAPOLEON -- A Toledo firm on Monday was awarded the contract to construct a key project in Napoleon's effort to comply with mandates handed down by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA).

Napoleon City Council passed first reading of legislation accepting a bid from Hank's Plumbing and Heating of Toledo (HPH), the firm that submitted the low bid for the 2.5 million gallon concrete equalization basin needed to keep sewer overflows from leaking into the Maumee River.

Council suspended second and third reading of this legislation in an effort to get construction of the project underway.

The contract-related legislation led an agenda that included an update on the replacement of a water pump that moves water from Napoleon to Wauseon and the award of a contract for emergency sewer repairs.

As awarded Monday, the equalization basin project contract totals close to $7 million -- an amount significantly higher than the $6.35 million engineer's estimate.

"The bid is within 10 percent of the engineer's estimate," said city engineer Chad Lulfs, adding OEPA has given Napoleon the green light to award the contract to HPH.

"Although this is an expensive project, it's not an overly complex one," added Lulfs.

The city received eight bids for the project, but HPH was the only firm to submit a price within 10 percent of the engineer's estimate.

The city cannot legally award the contract to a firm submitting a bid that totals more than 10 percent beyond the engineer's estimate.

The concrete and flood proof equalization basin will be constructed on East Washington Street.

The basin is designed to hold wastewater when heavy rains prevent the city's water treatment facility from keeping up with demand. Currently, untreated wastewater can be discharged into the river during periods of heavy rainfall.

Napoleon is currently working on a 20-year effort to address mandates handed down by the OEPA. The equalization basin project, along with sewer separation projects, are all part of the plan established to improve the city's water and sewer system.

The equalization basin project will be funded by a 1 percent loan given to the city by the OEPA.

In other business, council passed first reading of emergency legislation approving a sewer-related project that could help alleviate drainage problems in the Union Street area.

Under suspension of the required three readings, council awarded a $32,870 sole-source project to stabilize a combined sewer that has deteriorated.

"It needs immediate attention. It is my recommendation to get this fixed before something catastrophic happens," Lulfs said.

Also, council approved a recent expenditure of $33,000 to replace a pump that moves water from Napoleon to the Wauseon reservoir.

Napoleon and Wauseon cooperate to share water in times of need and city manager Jon Bisher made the emergency purchase to prevent the reservoir from draining further.

"Here we were in a hot summer and we couldn't keep (the reservoir) topped off for them," Bisher said.

Council also passed first reading of eight pieces of legislation that update city codes to bring them in line with Ohio Revised Code.

The move came under suspension of the rules and will allow Henry County to access previously unavailable revenue streams, according to city law director David Grahn.

Henry County currently pays the costs of incarcerating criminals prosecuted in the county, which totals nearly $900,000 annually.

Council also:

-- approved a $1,602 change order decrease for the phase IV water meter upgrade.

-- approved a change order not to exceed $15,000 to the professional services contract with Stantec Consulting Engineers for work on the equalization basin design project.

-- accepted a $300 donation from the Napoleon Moose Lodge for the police department.

-- passed first reading of legislation annexing the Henry County garage into city limits under suspension of the rules. The move is part of Napoleon's effort to annex properties contiguous to city limits.

-- set council's 2009 budget review for Nov. 7 and 8.

-- announced that the projected cost for a full-time mayor would be $70,000. Voters will decide if the mayor's position will be full-time in the November general election.