Williston Park is deciding between two bids submitted for a project to replace the 90-year-old Syracuse Street water tower.
Woodbury-based D&B Engineers and Architects has recommended the village approve the lower bid, by Landmark Structures, although Landmark didn’t meet the requested specifications of having built at least 10 similar style and size tanks in the last year, Senior Vice President Bill Merklin said.
Landmark Structures have built nine similar style water towers in the last 10 years, but all smaller than the planned 500-gallon tank for the village, Merklin said.
The higher bidder, Caldwell Tanks, has built 47 similar style and size tanks in the last 10 years, Caldwell Vice President Kevin Gallagher told the board.
Gallagher and Michael Shaffer, Caldwell director of steel construction, attended Monday’s village board meeting. There were no Landmark representatives present.
Landmark’s base bid is $4,158,000. Caldwell’s base bid is $4,937,000.
Each plan also includes four, sequential alternate bid items the board can choose to add, Merklin said.
With all alternates, the plans differ by about $700,000, Merklin said.
Merklin said that although Landmark did not meet the specifications, they do meet the overall requirements. He also said that Landmark received “very good feedback” from references.
Gallagher said there is a reason for experience requirements, and there is a significant learning curve in creating a tower of this size for the first time.
Shaffer said Caldwell is uniquely qualified for the challenges this site poses.
Mayor Paul Ehrbar said the board needs to further discuss which option the village will choose.
The new tank will be a pedesphere — a steel tank with a smooth continuous sphere sitting atop a high pole. It will hold the same amount of water as the current tank, and be about the same height at 180-feet.
It will be placed in the same spot as the existing one.
The project is expected to start on Labor Day and be complete by Memorial Day.
During the meeting, the board also unanimously passed, with Trustee Michael Uttaro absent, a six-month moratorium on cell tower construction.
The board also reminded the public about the village Narcan training that will be held at Village Hall on Aug. 6 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
