Rockford Utilities approves sewer plant bid
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
During a special called meeting Monday evening, the Rockford Utilities Board reviewed and approved a bid for the new sewer plant construction.
Ed Morris with Sentell Engineering reviewed the information with the board, stating that when the board previously bid out the project only one bid was received. That one was from P.F. Moon and Company of Georgia, but it had to be discarded because of not meeting certain criteria.
Morris explained that they then rebid the project and received two bids, including one from Goldman Contractors of Livingston and one from P.F. Moon. However, he said that rather than renegotiate and decrease its bid some, P.F. Moon and Company actually increased its bid by about $100,000.
P.F. Moon submitted a bid of $2,410,000 for the project, while Goldman Contractors submitted a bid of $2,198,480. Additionally, Goldman provided a deductive amendment letter stating that it would reduce its bid by $45,000 if the company does not encounter bedrock during excavation.
Morris said that the project costs more than initially anticipated, but that he did not think the board would get a better price. He also mentioned his previous experience with Goldman, stating that it is a good contractor, and said that he highly recommended the board accept the low bid from Goldman Contractors.
The board is expected to pay its portion of the project cost, with the USDA paying the balance. Morris said that per USDA’s Allen Bowen it should not be a problem to secure the rest of the funding for the project because they knew everything had drastically increased in cost.
Additionally, Morris said he also spoke with Scott Stevens, state engineer, who stated that the bid contract from Goldman was more than anticipated, but that they should be able to fund it.
Goldman Contractors stated that it can be on site with the concrete within 30 days once the bid is awarded. Morris said the company stated it should have the new sewer plant project finished within approximately eight months once it has started.
During discussion board attorney Nancy Kirby said that funding the project would be contingent upon receipt of additional funds from USDA.
After discussion, the board unanimously approved accepting the bid from Goldman Contractors for $2,198,480 for the construction of the new sewer plant.
Morris said that he would send the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs, or ADECA, a letter providing information and an update on where the board now stands with the project, further stating that they would be finished by the April 2025 deadline.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Rockford Utilities Board will be held Monday, April 15, at 6 p.m.
