By Jim Bloch
St. Clair will pay Thumb Coast Concrete about $40,000 to repair 15 catch basins in the city. The city council unanimously approved the contract at its regular meeting March 18.
The firm submitted the lowest of three bids for the work, but there was not a formal competitive bidding process. Instead, the city council waived the requirements of a sealed bid to get the work completed quickly.
“This is for the catch basin repair work that is scheduled as part of the road improvement program,” said City Superintendent Quentin Bishop, as heard on the recording of the meeting posted on YouTube.
On March 3, the city council awarded the road improvement contract to low bidder T.J. Priehs, of Imlay City, for $368,365. The project involves resurfacing portions of four city streets and will be paid for out of the city’s voted road tax of 2.446 mills for local road work. The millage runs through 2026.
“Right now, there are approximately 15 catch basins that are in need of repair before we can get started (with the repaving work),” Bishop said. “We have a little bit of a timing issue. If we were to have a sealed bid for just the catch basin repair, worked through that bid process and then got that work completed, our road work would be pushing into … the summer months.”
Instead of an open, advertised bidding process, Bishop asked the DPW to solicit three bids for the work. The DPW employees cannot repair the storm sewers, Bishop said, because they are in the middle of a project to test for and remove lead and copper from the city’s drinking water system, as required by the Michigan Department of Great Lakes and Energy. Bishop asked the council to waive the competitive bid requirement for projects above $10,000, which council unanimously did.
The solicited bidders were Thumb Coast Concrete, DeLoof Construction and Murray Underground Systems.
The catch basins are scattered around town: On 15th Street; three spots on Fourth Street; one on Eighth Street at Fourth; another at the southeast corner of 10th and Witherell; the northeast corner of 10th and Witherell; 422 Tenth Street; 802 Witherell; the southeast corner of Fourth and Witherell; the northeast corner of Fourth and Witherell; 117 Jay Street; and 209 South 10th Street.
“All three bids reflect the same work using the same specs at the same locations,” said Bishop.
Thumb Coast’s bid was $39,359. DeLoof came in at $42,850. Murray was high at $44,520. Thumb Coast most recently performed concrete repairs for the city in front of Riverview Plaza.
“When do you think they would begin work if this was approved?” asked council member Micah Volz.
“If this is approved, we would call them tomorrow and get them going right away,” said Bishop. “It would begin in the month of March.”
“When did the city find out it needed to replace the catch basins?” asked resident Bill Klieman.
About two weeks ago, said Bishop.
Why weren’t the catch basin problems discovered earlier and rolled in with the road repair work? Klieman asked.
Good question, said Bishop.
The council voted 6-0 to approve the contract. Council member Kris Paul was absent.
Jim Bloch is a freelance writer based in St. Clair, Michigan. Contact him at bloch.jim@gmail.com.
