Well replacement to start

WAUPACA – Two of the cities seven drinking water wells are up for rehabilitation as the city council approved the bid for the work at the April 8 meeting.
A little over $56,000 was budgeted for the project by the city, with the winning bid coming in at $40,120 from Municipal Well and Pump out of Waupun.
The project was sent out to bid at the end of February and the bid for Municipal Well and Pump was recommended to the council by the Utility Board.
The complicated bidding process starts with a base bid, however there are parts housed within the pumps that are of unknown wear.
Once the well is taken apart then the City will have a better understanding of cost, as they will be able to see the condition of wear parts and know whether they will need to be replaced.

There is a contingency fund set aside for any kind of increased costs at a total of $15,000.
Along with the wear parts, one of the pumps will also need a new concrete base, according to an inspection from the Department of Natural Resources.
This additional concrete pad also affected the final bid for the project.
Municipal Well and Pump’s bid came in at only $990 higher than their base bid, while the rest of the bids increased $8500 to $12,000 more with the concrete pad added.
Collin Dykstra, alderperson in district five, questioned why the bid from Municipal Well and Pump was so low, with the next closest bid just under $5,000 more.
Justin Berrens, public works director and interim city administrator, said they questioned that also and reached out to Municipal Well and Pump to confirm that their bid includes the new concrete pad, which they were able to confirm.
The bid was approved unanimously by the board April 8.