Council awards storm‑drain and traffic‑signal contracts to advance water‑quality and safety projects

Bowmont’s City Council approved a series of public‑works contract awards June 2 to advance stormwater capture and intersection safety projects.

Public‑works staff reported the city must meet a regional water‑board permit requirement to install full‑capture trash devices in catch basins by 2030. The council awarded a construction contract to Gentry General Engineering to install approximately 40 capture devices (base bid ~$120,264) and approved a 10% contingency for a not‑to‑exceed amount of about $133,000; staff noted the city has roughly 513 catch basins and needs additional devices to meet regulatory milestones.

Council also approved an electrical/traffic‑signal contract (Elnor Belco Electric) to reconfigure Pennsylvania Avenue and First Street — converting an existing through lane to a combined left/through lane and restriping eastbound approaches to separate lanes — with a base bid of ~$54,989 and a staff‑recommended contingency of $10,000 (NTE ~$64,989). Staff said timing for the signal work would be coordinated with a proposed Second Street signal to ensure efficient signal timing and traffic flow.

Council questioned operations and maintenance implications for storm‑drain devices and consensus supported moving forward with the awards and contingencies so construction can proceed.