MARYSVILLE – The City Council rejected all seven bids for the new Sunnyside Well Treatment Facility Project March 23.
The bids ranged from $5.59 million to more than $6.5 million. The city had planned to spend up to $4.9 million.
It was not decided when re-bids would be advertised. We need to go “back to the drawing board, or in the fall,” public works director Kevin Nielsen said.
Mayor Jon Nehring had hoped to get the year-long construction started in April.
The city wants to build a 6,900-square-foot, two-story water treatment plant along 71st Avenue near two city wells. The plant would filtrate minor levels of iron and manganese from the water. The overall goal is for the city to become self-reliant in its water system. Nehring said that would stabilize water rates for residents.
The other major project on the agenda, the widening of Fourth Avenue from three to five lanes from 116th to 136th, also was delayed. But it will come back for approval April 13 with a low bid of $2.8 million, much less than the planned $4 million.
“That’s a nice savings there,” Nehring said.
Work is expected to start in late April and finish near the end of the year.
Nehring also presented members of the Marysville Noon Rotary with the city’s Volunteer of the Month award.
The Rotary worked with the city to convert the old petting zoo into a new public meeting and event space. The city faces a growing demand for public space to host local programs and community events.
The Noon Rotarians stepped in to organize grant funding and countless hours of volunteer labor.
“It took a lot of sweat and elbow grease,” Nehring said.
He emphasized the Rotarians donated a lot of money to the project, but also a lot of time away from their families on evenings and weekends.
“It’s a real community asset,” he said.
Also, Jesica Stickles was introduced as the new Greater Marysville Tulalip Chamber of Commerce president and chief executive officer. She talked about a multi-chamber event being planned for May and a chamber fund-raiser in the form of a carnival coming in mid-July.
Finally, Robert and Cynthia Christiansen were named new caretakers of Jennings Memorial Park.
