Roachdale water system on tap

ROACHDALE -- After receiving an ORCA grant at the beginning of the year, the town of Roachdale has accepted a bid on the new water system project.

At the town meeting last week the town board accepted a bid of $687,125 from Likens Construction to redo the water system in the town. This is the group that was recommended by the engineer that evaluated what the town needed in a new water system.

Another firm was present at the town meeting, wanting to present a way for the town to save $29,000, but board members Jack Jones and Zach Bowers voted to accept Likens' bid without hearing the other firm's proposal.

"I've done a lot of bidding myself," Jones said when asked why the board did not want to hear the proposal. "Usually just go with that the engineer says."

Jones also believed that the company was coming in on the side trying to sway the board to go with them.

The savings of $29,000, while a significant amount, would come at a cost of different supplies that might not be right for the project.

The next town meeting will be on Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m.