Culbertson council hires engineering firm and awards sewer construction bid for local extensions

The Town of Culbertson moved forward on multiple sewer projects this year, approving engineering and construction steps to extend sewer service in several additions and along Robert Street.

In June the council voted to hire the L. J. Burdick engineering firm to conduct a preliminary survey and handle engineering work for sewer extensions; the firm’s fee was recorded as 9 percent. The council also approved installing sewer lines in the Bruegger addition with the digging costs to be assessed to the property owners bordering the new line.

At an Aug. 12 special meeting the council opened construction bids for the sewer improvement project. L & S Improvement submitted the low construction bid of $6,183.00; the council voted to accept that bid and to proceed with the scheduled work. Earlier discussions and plan reviews were presented to the council by Mr. Webster of the Burdick engineering firm, who provided the plans and the final billing the council later approved.

Council minutes record that the town agreed to advertise for construction bids (bid letting was scheduled Aug. 12 at 8:00 p.m.), accepted the low bidder, and authorized standard plumbing-material provisions — notably a motion that plumbers furnish materials with a 10 percent charge over material cost chargeable to the town when applicable. The minutes also note a separate plumber-material sale arrangement for materials on hand to be sold to Gus Born.

The council approved assessing property owners for digging and special improvement costs where noted; where deadline or assessment details were not specified the minutes say costs would be borne by affected property owners or by special improvement districts. The council also accepted final billing presented by the engineer for the completed sewer extension work and recorded payment motions.

Next procedural steps recorded in the minutes include execution of the construction contract with the accepted bidder and standard auditing-committee referral of construction claims for payment. The minutes do not list a project completion date, total town contribution amount, nor a final construction schedule.