Park sprinkler pact granted

After a discussion in which Councilman Allen Olsen called the bid excessive, Libby City Council members on Monday voted 5-1 to award an irrigation contract for Riverfront Park to Jack’s Water Works for $25,513.20.

Olsen was the lone dissenting vote.

City Councilwoman Peggy Williams, who chairs the Parks Committee, recommended Jack’s Water Works get the bid, which the City Council accepted.

“This is one of those instances, where you don’t take the lowest estimate, you go with the best,” Williams said after the vote.

Olsen, who owns Antler Tree Nursery and Gifts, installs irrigation systems, and said the bid is “excessive and exorbitant.”

“Because I’m a Council member, I can’t bid on the project, but I went down there and estimated the job, just so I know,” Olsen said. “My bid was $11,450. Rick’s bid was $10,500, which I think is in line. Jack’s bid is just plain too high. There’s no way five men are going to spend 80 hours doing that job.”

   Olsen said the EPA provided what he called an estimate.

   “The city got $9,655 from the EPA to do that job. Why do you think they came up with that number? That’s what the EPA thinks of the project,” Olsen said.

   The “Rick” to which Olsen is referring is Rick Tuin, owner of Big Sky Sprinklers whose bid of $10,500 was the lowest.

   “I know my bid is good,” Tuin said. “I just don’t see the job costing that much, especially when they need $8 million for a new dam. I just think it’s crazy to spend $15,000 more than necessary, especially when they said tonight they need a new lawnmower ($20,000 estimated) for the cemetery, but whatever …,” Tuin said.

   Tuin’s reference is to the reported cost of a new lawnmower for the cemetery, a figure given during the Parks Committee report.

   For his part, Jack Ehmann defended his bid.

   “We’re going to have four-times coverage,” Ehmann said. “Each head with be hitting another, and I can say, no, there won’t be any brown spots.”

   Ehmann also said his bid includes drilling under one of the roads within the park to supply a water line.

   “It’s something I noticed. I didn’t see it on the other bid, so I don’t know whether they thought about it,” Ehmann said. “It will probably take us a full day just to do that boring.”

   Ehmann said he bid the job according to “Rainbird specifications,” which he said will make sure the job is done correctly.

   The winning bid will include 177 sprinkler heads, 2,600 linear feet of pvc pipe, 22 valve boxes, 20 rolls consisting of 300-feet each of 1½-inch pipe, 1,500-feet of wire, and various electronic sensors, remote controllers, glue, primers, wire nuts and other miscellaneous fittings.

   All pipe, Ehmann said, will be buried 10- to 12-inches deep.   

   According to the contract, all parts are guaranteed five years and labor costs are guaranteed for one year.

   In other business, the City Council …:

• Discussed the proposed noise ordinance, which Mayor Roll indicated may come to a vote at the July 16 meeting. Addressing the ordinance, Police Chief Jim Smith said he would welcome the ordinance, as now his officers when responding to complaints can only suggest residents comply with common sensical guidelines. An ordinance, Smith said, would give his officers guidelines for enforcement.

• Indicated the Splash Pad at Fireman’s Park soon will be ready for children. Cool weather, Williams said, has decreased the need for the pad, which she said could be open soon. Crews installed a concrete skirt on the perimeter and a fence around the pad, which will help keep animals out of the area.

• Approved an investment policy, as required by the city’s auditor. The move, explained City Clerk Glena Hook, is not a change in policy. Instead, it just clearly states the city’s investment plans. The city invests revenue from the General Fund, Special Revenue Fund, Debt Services Fund, Capital Improvement Fund, Enterprise Fund and the Trust and Agency Funds.

• Approved Resolution No. 1813, which declares an intention to accept a detailed environmental report conducted and prepared by the engineering firm Morrison-Maierle, Inc., of Kalispell, describing the impacts from the construction and operation of the Flower Creek Dam project.