Quinlan Awards Bids On Water Tower, Lines

The Quinlan City Council awarded bids Monday night for the construction of a new water tower and water distribution system improvements.

The bids were approved at the recommendation of consulting engineer C. Frank Rasor, president of Rasor and Associates, LLC, of Terrell and City Consultant Billy Green.

Rasor discussed the differences in the four bids received on the 250,000-gallon water tower. The companies made offers on two types of tanks — the single pedestal (sphere) and toro (leg type).

Landmark Structures of Fort Worth submitted the low and successful bid that was for a sphere type tank at $870,000. The company did not bid on the leg type.

Maguire Iron, Inc. of Sioux Falls, S.D., submitted the lowest bid for a leg-type tank at $797,200. The company’s bid for a sphere tank was $925,900.

Other bids for the sphere type included Phoenix Tank of Denton, $984,439; and Caldwell Tanks, Louisville, Ky., $1,074,000. The Phoenix bid for a leg-type tank was $938,070; and the Caldwell leg-type tank bid, $1,183,000.

Rasor said his recommendation for the sphere tank was based on its lack of railings or catwalk that would allow access from the ground as well as enhanced aesthetics with a more contemporary look.

Green said the sphere offered greater security. He said the base included a portion where the control panel could be secured.

Green said over the life of the tank, he thought the sphere would be cheaper.

Three bids were received for the water distribution lines: Dickerson Construction of Celina, $127,572; Morrow Construction of Lavon, $176,612.14; and Housley Communications, Inc. of Carrollton, $206,202.

Rasor said the Dickerson bid failed to include a costly piece of equipment. He said when the company was contacted about the matter, they acknowledged the error and agreed to be removed from consideration. The Morrow company received the award for its base bid.

Each company offered an additional alternate bid: Dickerson, $61,346; Morrow, $63,048.95; and Housley, $82,889.50.

Green said he recommended the Morrow base bid with the additional work since the city had not received a secure easement to property to the east of the project.

Cindy Johnson and Shannon Foltz presented plans to open a business, possibly at the Quinlan Community Center located downtown, with expansion in phases.

Johnson described her presentation as a "short sentimental journey" that would include economic development for Quinlan.

She said Quinlan had been her family’s home for generations and that she had a sentimental connection to the community center where a grocery store had been located since the 1800s including her grandfather’s store.

Johnson recalled working at the store from the time she was in the first grade and where she later sold okra.

She said she did "everything I do to preserve our life" so others could enjoy it as she did when she was growing up here. Johnson remembered that longtime former postmaster, Hobart Lytal, would place a stool in front of the post office boxes when she was too small to reach her grandfather’s box to get his mail.

"We would like to make downtown Quinlan a destination," Johnson said.

She said as executive director of the Lake Tawakoni Regional Chamber of Commerce she received many calls from people looking for somewhere to go, especially on Monday when many downtowns with antiques were closed.

She said she had talked with highway department officials who indicated the continuation of State Highway 276 improvements west of Quinlan would begin as soon as funding was possible. The funds were expected to be available no later than 2012 to purchase right of way to extend the four lanes to the planned reconnection at the State Highway 276 and 34 intersection.

"As soon as that happens, there would be no reason for anyone to come through downtown," Johnson said.

She said she thought the two-year window was a good opportunity that would allow plans to be in place.

Foltz said the first phase of their business plan would be opening "Just Pie." She said they would like a storefront where they could serve pie and coffee. Other plans included a lunch menu and the sale of herbs from a local coop of growers. Later, they planned to expand outside of Quinlan.

Johnson said she understood that the community center carried with it deed restrictions that required it to be used for a community center.

Mayor Sharon Royal asked if they were offering to buy the building.

"I don’t know what I’m offering," Johnson said. She said if they were able to purchase it at a reasonable cost, they would make provision to give the city half of whatever increase in its value was realized. "We don’t want to make money off the building," she said.

Johnson said they were already at work and had many orders through the holidays.

• The council gave Mayor Royal authority to cast its 42 votes for Bill McCrary for reelection to the Hunt County Appraisal District Board of Directors.

• Second-vote approval was given to the specific use permit for a church to be located at 108 E. Richmond that was first approved at the Oct. 12 meeting.

• All council members were present except Richey Whitehead.