RANIER — The Ranier City Council Monday opened bids for the Three Points North water project. The lone bid for the project came from Wagner Construction Inc. in the amount of $426,605.
Last September, the council rejected a $540,713 bid for the same project from Wagner Construction because the council agreed the amount was higher than expected. A feasibility study conducted by the project’s engineering firm, Short Elliott Hendrickson Inc., estimated the cost to add water lines to the area west of the old Ranier would cost about $419,000.
Jeff Ledin, senior professional engineer for SEH, Monday told the council the project has been “tweaked” to bring the cost down. Ledin added that additional engineering still needs to be done and easements need to be established before the bid is awarded in May.
“We only got one bid,” he said. “If it is the right number, we can make it work. In May, this project could go forth.”
The project will bring about 33 new water customers to the city.
In other action Monday, the council set a $300 fee for Ranier residents to hook up to the city’s water system. Fees for non-Ranier residents will be considered by the council on an individual basis.
Mayor Ed Oerichbauer explained that because of annexation, existing hook-up fees will be combined into a flat, lower fee.
The council also approved a request for a building permit from resident John Bruggeman, who will construct an addition to his garage located on Duluth Street.
The operating statement for the Ranier Liquor Store shows a year-to-date net profit of $4,511 compared to last year’s $8,007 profit.
