SOUTH PITTSBURG, Tenn. - When the city was awarded a $100,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant, officials planned to use the money to upgrade the pumps and motors at the South Pittsburg Water Treatment Plant.
South Pittsburg Utilities Manager Donald Blansett said bids were opened March 17.
"The lowest one was $145,250," he said. "The amount of money we have in our energy grant is $100,000."
Paul Thomas, project engineer with ARCADIS Inc. in Chattanooga, recommended officials reject all the bids because they were well over the budgeted cost for the proposed job.
At a special called meeting Monday, the South Pittsburg City Commission unanimously voted to decline all of the initial bids.
According to the bid specifications, the job would include installing a new, high-efficiency service pump and replacing three pump motors.
"We'll make some modifications to [the project], so hopefully we can get in under the $100,000," Blansett said.
Mayor Mike Killian said he hopes the work can be done, but it has to fit the budget.
"If we don't have the money to pay for the project, there's not much we can do except try to rebid it and get a lower price," he said.
Officials said the project will be rebid, and the board plans to open the new bids at its next meeting April 12.
Ryan Lewis is based in Marion County. Contact him at ryanlewis34@gmail.com