Best Plumbing Awarded Fairgrounds Bid

The Cheyenne County Commissioners met in special session Monday morning, awarding the water project at the county fairgrounds to Best Plumbing and Heating of Sidney.

The project is for replacement of a 6-inch water line from the east side of the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds to the west. Farris Engineering was contracted to oversee the project. Business Development Manager Mark Mazour said Farris Engineering was contacted to document the condition of the water lines and what could be done to correct any deficiencies. Mazour said another concern of the water line is fire suppression and the new pavilion.

The project is designed with two phases. The first phase is for replacement of the 6-inch line and retesting of the water service. Phase 2 is contingent on if Phase 1 will fix all of the problems with the water system. Mazour said if Phase 1 does not correct all of the concerns, Phase 2 will be constructed. Phase 2 calls for an eight-inch line that loops around the main part of the fairgrounds to the west side.

Mazour said the overall intent of the project is to build reliability into the fairgrounds water system. In the Sept. 16 commissioners meeting, two bids were opened. R & T Excavating submitted a bid for Phase 1 at $84,065 and Phase 2 for $113,34. Best Plumbing submitted a bid for Phase 1 at $68,380.

Ben Schmitt and Mazour were in attendance at Monday's meeting. They said that after further research, Best Plumbing still comes in as the lowest bid. After the meeting, Mazour said bid prices are only valid for about 45 days. Commissioner Randy Miller, present in the meeting by speakerphone, asked if the commissioners would need a special meeting if change orders are requested. County Attorney Paul Schaub said change orders would need to be brought before the commissioners but a special meeting would not be necessary.