NID News Release
February 24, 2010
Contact: Ron Nelson
(530)273-6185 Or Dave Carter (530)265-NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
GRASS VALLEY – Directors of the
Nevada Irrigation District on Wednesday (Feb. 24) awarded a $23.4 million contract
for construction of the Banner Cascade Pipeline Project. The successful bidder,
Teichert Construction of Lincoln, included nine local sub-contractors, who
under a local preference clause and after deductions for large pipe costs will
be eligible for 14.8 percent, or $2.5 million, of the project total. Teichert
submitted the lowest of six bids NID received from pre-qualified large
construction firms. The bids ranged to $32.1 million for a project estimated by
NID engineers at $26.3 million.
The
project, which includes 6.4 miles of large diameter pipeline, 5.5 miles of
treated water pipeline and replacement of a major siphon, is one of the largest
in the district’s history. It has been in planning for 10 years. The new
pipeline will provide a more reliable water supply to the Elizabeth George and
Loma Rica water treatment plants and will provide capacity to supply more
irrigation water in rural Nevada County. The existing Lower Cascade Canal,
which has safety and capacity issues, will remain in operation with limited
flows.
NID
project manager Brian Powell said NID has $41 million budgeted for the project
but hopes to save up to $10 million through today’s favorable bidding climate
and by handling all project management on an in-house basis.
He
said NID staff has worked diligently over the past few years in meeting
neighborhood concerns about the large water project and assured board members
that staff and the project contractor would remain sensitive to public
concerns. Work is expected to begin this spring and be completed by late 2011.
In
other business, Directors:
•
Heard an announcement from Recreation Manager Peggy Davidson on a plan to
introduce and re-introduce district customers and community members to NID’s
recreational facilities. Davidson said a coupon program would offer one-time
free day use at Scotts Flat Lake or Rollins Lake Orchard Springs Campground to
families and vehicles with up to four people. She said details of the program
are still being developed.
•
Held a retirement presentation for Jim Williams, the district’s purchasing
supervisor, who retires Mar. 5 from a 35-year district career. The Grass Valley
resident is the district’s senior employee.
The
next regular meeting of the NID Board of Directors will be held at 9 a.m. on
Mar. 10 at the NID Business Center in Grass Valley. NID board meetings are open
to the public.
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