Monterey Board Accepts Bids For Water Tank Updates

Monterey will spend $36,800 to update three water tanks.

Consulting engineer Nathaniel Green said that figure came in $84,400 lower than the highest bid submitted for the project.

“I had given you (the board) a budget back a few months ago. Based on that budget, we’re just slightly under the lowest end construction cost that I thought we would have at the $45,500,” Green said. “I do have some contingency numbers in there that I asked for from them. Some numbers for sandblasting and painting that we shouldn’t need, but if something happens I wanted to have it.”

The board of mayor and aldermen awarded the low bid for the project to Shelbyville-based G&L Tank Sandblasting and Coatings. Two of the water tanks are located on Peter Avenue and the other at the city industrial park.

Green said he’s never worked directly with the company, but he’s confident about their ability to complete the project.

“They’ve sub-contracted on a lot of projects that we have done,” Green said. “We are confident that the work they put out should be good, barring any unforeseen circumstances.”

Green said the project stems from recent tank inspections that identified a few problems.

“One of the items on two tanks was that the temperature inside the top of the tank was reaching an excess of 140-degrees Fahrenheit,” Green said. “About 120-degrees is the maximum that they want it to reach, and so there’s some corrosion that’s happening in there.”

Inspectors have recommended cutting vents into the tanks to help stabilize the water temperature. Each tank will also need new manways installed to allow easier access for entry.