Photo by Eric Ayres – This massive 800,000 gallon water tank on Springdale Avenue in Wheeling is one of two city-maintained tanks due for repainting this year. The low bid for sandblasting and painting two water tanks, inside and outside, was nearly half a million dollars.
WHEELING – City officials are preparing to continue a steady rotation of water tank painting projects in Wheeling, despite rising costs for the work.
This week, the Wheeling City Council is due to meet at noon on Tuesday, when several new bills will be tabled. Among the items set to be introduced for a first reading this week is an order authorizing City Manager Robert Herron to spend $495,840 with Worldwide Industries of Butler, Pa., to repaint two city water tanks — one on the hill off Springdale Avenue and another off GC&P Road at Washington Farms.
Although city leaders noted that the offer of nearly half a million dollars for two tanks was high, Worldwide Industries’ offer was significantly lower than other bids received for the project. By comparison, John B. Conomos Inc. bid $881,855 for the work, while Almega Co. Inc. bid $1,014,635 for the same job.
“Prices have skyrocketed,” Wheeling Public Works Manager Rusty Jebbia said. “The offers also surprised us. Costs have increased. »
Between ongoing supply chain issues and rising inflation, the rising cost of construction materials continued to affect overall labor costs and project prices in both the public and private sectors across the country. over the past year, according to data from the Associated General Contractors of America.
However, Wheeling’s next two water tank painting projects are significant. Jebbia noted that the Springdale tank is a massive 800,000 gallon monster, while the Washington Farms tank has a capacity of 50,000 gallons.
In total, the city maintains 19 water reservoirs. Most are within the city limits, but the city’s water department provides service to communities outside the city and as far away as Pennsylvania. The Washington Farms Reservoir, for example, is located outside the city limits.
Jebbia said the city has a regular rotation for tank painting, and the scope of work often depends on the condition of individual tanks. The Springdale and Washington Farm tanks should be sandblasted and repainted inside and out, Jebbia noted.
“We try to paint the tanks once every 20 years, and we try to do a project every year or so when we can,” Jebbia said.
“The frequency depends on the tank itself, and also on the tank, sometimes it’s inside and outside,” Herron added. “The city maintains a tank painting fund in which each year funds are set aside for our tanks.”
According to the ordinance, the project will be billed to the City Water Department’s Reservoir Rehabilitation Fund.
The Wheeling City Council will meet at the City-County Building. In other actions set to come before the council this week, officials are to hear early readings on:
– an order to spend $18,200 with Lithko Restoration Technologies of Monroe, Ohio, for additional shoring at 10th Street to be charged to the Project Fund.
– an order to spend $22,598 with Fire Force Inc. of Pittsburgh for firefighting equipment to be charged to the Firefighting Equipment Fund.
– A resolution accepting the terms and conditions of the West Virginia Department of Transportation Highways Division Agreement for the Wheeling Robrecht Waterfront Park Design for Pedestrian and Trail Facilities. The agreement requires matching funds from the City of Wheeling sponsor in the amount of $48,173 to be charged to the Project Fund.
– an order changing the name of Cross Street in Mozart to Short Street to eliminate duplicate street names and potential confusion between carriers and emergency service responders.
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