The City of Fulton's annual asphalt overlay project will be a bigger job in 2014 than years past.
City Engineer Greg Hayes said the street department sets aside $250,000 each year for the project, but this year $100,000 from the sewer and water departments each will be added to that figure.
The project was awarded to Columbia-based APAC of Missouri Inc. at the Fulton City Council's Tuesday meeting. APAC presented the low bid at $452,527. Christensen Construction of Kingdom City bid $498,780 and Higgins Asphalt Paving of Tipton was the high bid at $520,756.
Hayes said he and his staff drive throughout the city each year to assess the roads in need and present a list to Mayor Leroy Benton and City Administrator Bill Johnson, who then take a look for themselves. He added that the city will collaborate with the contractor on the project's start date, but hopes for work to begin at the end of August. Hayes anticipates two to three weeks for completion, and any street closings needed are based on the contractor's wishes.
While crews are overlaying, Hayes said he wants to remind people to be cautious when driving.
For the sewer lining project, Hayes said the city is working with two different companies, Insituform and one out of St. Louis, on a proposal.
Hayes said the city was looking at sewer line upgrades starting near the Second Street Subway restaurant and ending at Route O instead of continuing to the sewer plant, but after conversations with Benton and Johnson, the scope of the project may increase. This would also up the project's dollar amount, so the council will need to take a future vote approving a larger-scale project.
The city could "piggy back" on an Insituform contract out of Independence, which Hayes said would "hold prices and allow us to tag along."
On average, Fulton's wastewater treatment plant handles about 2 million gallons per day, according to Hayes, and heavy rain and melting snow seeping into "antiquated" sewer lines can bump that up to 8 million gallons. The sewer line project corresponds with manhole sealing project. Hayes said more than 500 of Fulton's manholes are brick - a material not conducive to keeping water out of the sewage line.
Hayes said improved lines and manholes will tighten the system, therefore lowering the influx to the wastewater treatment plant.
In April, voters approved the city's $13 million sewer bond issue.
Johnson said Tuesday night that the city will receive a $700,000 grant from the Department of Natural Resources and the remaining $12.3 million will come from the state's revolving loan fund.