Sewer bids come in lower than expected

Published: Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:11 a.m. Last Modified: Monday, June 11, 2012 at 7:11 a.m.

DAVENPORT - The bids are in, and costs of a new sewer collection system should be lower than expected.

City Manager Amy Arrington said Wednesday the low bid for the wastewater treatment plant is just under $2 million, which is what engineers projected.

However, the low bid for the sewer collection system to be installed in old Davenport east of U.S. 17/92 was $1.7 million less than projected.

"If that bid is a good one, we're in a good position," Arrington said. "We're waiting for our engineers to verify that everything is good with those low bids."

Based on Reiss Engineering's advice, the City Commission will discuss the issue at its workshop at 7 p.m. today at City Hall.

The commission decided last month to build its own wastewater treatment plant because it was less expensive than hooking into the Polk County's or Haines City's.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has been pressuring towns whose residents have septic tanks to build sewer systems to prevent pollution of lakes and streams.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing $4.9 million in loans and a $2.3 million grant for to fund the project. The loan will be repaid by charges to residents.

The city has a bond issue ready to go to borrow the funds needed to install the sewer system and wastewater treatment plant but will wait until a town meeting tentatively set for July 12.

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Sewer bids come in lower than expected