Torrington Council awards infrastructure projects

By Tom Milstead tmilstead@torringtontelegram.com
Posted 4/24/20

TORRINGTON – The Torrington City Council met via a Zoom video conference on Tuesday night to take action on several potential street projects and to pay its bills.

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Torrington Council awards infrastructure projects

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TORRINGTON – The Torrington City Council met via a Zoom video conference on Tuesday night to take action on several potential street projects and to pay its bills.
Mayor Randy Adams started the meeting by delivering some updates on projects currently underway around town, and told the virtual assembly these projects were made possible by people who have invested in Torrington.
“All of these high dollar projects are a reflection of the positive and forward-thinking investments that our local banks and the citizens of this community are making as we move forward into 2020.”
He reported contractors have finished up the improvements on East D waterline.
“Work continues on the East D waterline improvements,” he said. “The waterline was completed this week and the contractor is working on concrete repairs.
A walking path project on the east side of town between 20th and 21st streets is complete, and contractors are hard at work on other projects.
“Work has begun on the West C waterline projects and will likely continue for the next couple of weeks,” Adams said. “People are excited to see construction begin on the Evergreen Plaza site. That work will continue well into 2021 before we have them complete.

“The EWC ATEC project will continue at a faster rate since the weather has improved.
“The $6 million-dollar project at the airport began yesterday. That will repair runways, make new taxiways and it will be much-needed for our airport.”
Infrastructure projects were the theme of the evening, as the council voted to award three bids for new projects.
Paul Reed Construction, of Gering, Neb., was awarded a $255,690 contract to rehabilitate water lines as a part of the 2019 Community Development Block Grant projects, and allocating other funds for engineering and other streets improvements.  All told, the project will cost $525,220. Since PRC’s bid came in under budget, that balance will be used for other projects. The contract is contingent upon the city receiving approval from CDBG staff.
“We are anticipating getting that notice pretty soon,” Public Works Director Jeff Harkins said. “That is why I put this on the agenda tonight, because if we did get the notice to proceed within the next three weeks we’d have to wait until the next council meeting to award the contract.”
The contract was approved unanimously.
J-Built Homes, of Torrington, was awarded a $50,386 contract to build a walking path from West A Street to the Cottonwood Golf Course.
“This will allow people to walk and jog out there in a safe manner,” Councilman Ted Kinney said.
Adams agreed with Kinney’s assessment.
“You’re very right,” he said. “The reason for this being done is that it is a big safety item. There are a lot of people on that road and you have no idea what kind of people are driving on that road. Having a walking path there is a whole lot safer.
The bid was approved unanimously.
The city also awarded a $105,945.99 contract to High Pointe Electric to install a new 175 kilowatt emergency generator, transfer switch and emergency fencing for a city well. The Department of Homeland Security is funding the project.
In other business, the city voted unanimously so support Adams’ proclamation to recognize April 24 as Arbor Day – though the mayor said the traditional ceremonial tree planting will take place sometime in the fall, due to COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings.
“At that time, we’ll hope to have the public and a few classes of children there,” he said.