06/12/13  Monday evening members of the Plymouth Board of Public Works and Safety opened bids for the Baker Street and Fairbanks Street improvement project.  This project is a continuation of a project from last summer that saw a total reconstruction of Baker Street from Michigan Street east ward to Park Street at an estimated $160,000.  Phend & Brown was the low bidder on the 2012 project.

This summer the city will reconstruct Baker Street from Park Street though the Fairbanks intersection and then eastward on Fairbanks. 

Bids were opened from four companies:

Walsh & Kelly Paving Contractors of South Bend $192,240

Reith Riley Construction Inc. from South Bend $168,750

E and B Paving Inc. from Rochester $163,355.72 and

Phend and Brown Inc. from Milford at $140,960.    City Engineer Rick Gaul asked for bids to be taken under-advisement so they could be reviewed.  He is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of Works at their meeting on June 24th.

Quotes were opened at the May 28th meeting for a Valve Exercising Trailer.  Three companies offered quotes with the low one being Ditch Witch Midwest from Fort Wayne with a quote of $35,575.  Their quote failed to provide an exercise arm for the unit.  The next low bidder was Vemier of Indiana from Fort Wayne.  Their quote only met 16 of the 26 compliance items with two critical items not meeting specifications.  The high quoter, EH Wachs from Harbor, IL had a base quote of $61,900 and two alternates at $11,655 and $3,735 for a total cost of $77,290.  Utility Superintendent Donnie Davidson asked the Board of Public Works and Safety to approve the quote from EH Wachs and said he had budgeted $70,000 this year for the trailer.  Discussion the purchase with Clerk Treasurer Toni Hutchings it was determined that money was available in his budget to transfer and cover the cost.  The board approved the purchase. 

The city board was also scheduled to award the quote for the HVAC project.  Last meeting two companies All Season Heating quoted $45,590 while Bowman’s Tin Shop had a quote of $53,715.65. After review of the quotes City Attorney Sean Surrisi said All Season quote did not meet specification on the Carrier Furnace with up to 95% efficiency and not providing an energy star certification.  The Board approved the quote by Bowman’s Tin Shop for the energy saving changes. 

In other business the board approved the request of Tom Wruble from the Bread of Life Food Pantry at 125 East LaPorte Street.  Wruble said the construction for River Park Square will cause parking issues this summer and fall.  He asked for a couple of designated parking spaces as a loading and unloading zone only on days that they unload 5,000 pound of food from the food bank and for days when clients can shop at the pantry.  Temporary restriction signs will be provided by the city.