Council approves electrical project bid

Tyler Martineau
Posted 1/20/22

The Torrington City Council awarded a bid for the Cold Springs 15kV UG distribution feeder construction project during its regular meeting on Tuesday.

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Council approves electrical project bid

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TORRINGTON – The Torrington City Council awarded a bid for the Cold Springs 15kV UG distribution feeder construction project during its regular meeting on Tuesday. 

Councilman Ted Kinney led the meeting as Mayor Randy Adams had recently undergone a surgical procedure and was recovering. Kinney said the mayor expected to return to the office on Wednesday. 

Electrical Supervisor Dana Youtz addressed the council and recommended to award the bid for the construction project to Electrical Controls and Instrumentation (ECI) out of Glenrock in the amount of $35,789.11. 

The project will include taking two distribution circuits to Cold Springs Business Park and put them on the new substation according to Youtz. 

While the second lowest bid came in at $56,690.39, the other three bids were all more than $130,000. 

Youtz said the company has received great reviews and they also worked on the ambulance generator project. 

Councilman Dennis Kelly was concerned about the disparity between bids and asked what would happen if ECI could not do it for what they bid. City Attorney James Eddington said they would go to court if needed. 

“They have a contract. If we accepted the bid they’re stuck,” Eddington said. “The loss is on them not on us.” 

Eddington added if they refuse to do the project they can sue for damages. 

After approving the bid, the council also approved a catering permit to Ethan Fitch with the Mint Bar along with Brandi Hiser for the Goshen County Library’s Sip and Paint event on Saturday, Jan. 22. The event will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

An Ordinance on first reading to annex the “1989 Runway” addition of the Torrington Airport and Resolution 2022-2 to amend the 2022 fiscal year budget were also approved by the council. 

Attorney Eddington provided  an update on the Supreme Court’s ruling to reject Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) vaccine mandate for businesses with 100-plus employees. However, the Supreme Court did allow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to mandate all first responders who receive payment from Medicare and Medicaid to get vaccinated. 

Eddington said the mandate should only affect the ambulance staff but they will check with the Wyoming Department of Health to make sure it does. 

Kelly asked if the police department would also fit under first responders but Eddington said it only applies to full-time health providers and do not receive Medicaid/Medicare payments. 

Councilman Kinney read the information items which included an overview of the most recent snowstorm. Kinney said most of the predicted heavy snow and low windchills missed Torrington. Kinney also reminded everyone to keep their sidewalks clear. 

In terms of vaccination numbers in Wyoming, Kinney said 48% of residents are vaccinated and 56% have received at least one shot. 

Kinney also talked about how the city plans to use American Relief Plan funds. 

“At this point, our future projects are all water and wastewater related,” Kinney said. 

Bidding for the wastewater treatment plant recently opened. The projected cost for the project was $3.5 million, but all of the bids have come in above $5 million. 

In other projects, Kinney said the fuel island repairs project is set to begin on Jan. 24 and the chip seal project with 80% funding by the Wyoming Department of Transportation (WYDOT) will take place in the next few months. 

Kinney also announced the new ladder truck for the fire department arrived on Jan. 13 with training to take place from Thursday, Jan. 20 to Saturday, Jan. 22. 

The next council meeting will be Feb. 1 at 7 p.m.