Fairchance accepts bid for water plant filter
FAIRCHANCE – Borough council accepted a $327,550 bid Wednesday to make and install a filter at the borough’s water plant. Council members voted unanimously in favor of accepting the bid from Stefanick Construction of Dunbar for the overhead storage filter project.
It was the lowest of four bids that council opened Monday. The other bids ranged from $356,569 to $397,450.
Councilman Raymond C. Eicher said the bids were slightly higher than what was anticipated several years ago, but he was satisfied with the bids. He said part of the increase was due to automated equipment that the state requires for the filter.
Engineering consultant J. Scott Bush said he recommended accepting Stefanick’s bid.
He said council’s next step will be to enter into a contract with the company, which would then order the needed equipment.
Council Vice President Dora E. Miller said it will take six to eight weeks to manufacture the filter off site and deliver it to the plant, where borough workers will prepare the installation site.
It won’t take long to install the filter after it arrives, Miller said. Council will pay for the filter from money it previously borrowed to build the plant, she said.
In unrelated business, council agreed to file in Common Pleas Court an appeal of the Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board’s April 18 approval of a special exception that would allow an auto salvage business to open on Collier Road.
Solicitor Simon John said some property owners have also appealed the decision, but he advised council to file a separate appeal in the borough’s name.
Following another recommendation from John, council also approved filing a petition to intervene in the property owners’ appeal. John said the court would probably hear the appeals together.
He said a petition signed by 133 people opposed to the salvage business will be included with the appeal filing.
In other business, council accepted a $1,465 bid from Joshua Johnston of Dubois to purchase the borough’s old 1988 Dodge Diplomat police car. Two other bids, for $877 and $62, were also submitted.