City awards $1 million bid

New Bern approved a $1 million bid to upgrade the citys Kale Road building that will be the headquarters for the citys public utilities operations.

The administrative operation of the utilities department at 303 First St. was relocated to 210 Kale Road at the end of August in the first phase of the two-phase move to the newer facility near Creekside Park.

Mark Stephens, city manager, said the second phase involves moving all the electric maintenance and operations distribution equipment and the warehouse operations at 205 First St. into the Kale Road warehouse.

But significant upgrades to store equipment and trucks and prepare the Kale Road property are needed for the Phase 2 project. They include site grading, construction of equipment storage shelters behind the facility, storm water pond modifications, and parking lot and driveway paving, Stephens said.

Aldermen accepted the low bid of $1,092,346.85 Wednesday from Brydge and Lee Inc. of New Bern to do the upgrades. The bids were opened Oct. 30, and the city received eight bids, according to a memorandum from Jordan Hughes, city engineer, to the aldermen.

Hughes said the funds have been budgeted and the contract has a 200-day deadline.

By mid-May or early June, we hope to have it done, Hughes said.

Aldermen also approved using revenue bonds for the project Wednesday night.

In August, about 20 administrative and staff personnel moved from the First Street facility to Kale Road and it was a seamless move, Hughes said.

It was well planned out and there were no interruptions to what we do day-to-day, he said. One day we were on First Street and then we were here. We never missed a beat. I think the people we deal with on a daily basis are getting acclimated and it is not really an issue.

Go here to see the original:
City awards $1 million bid