Albion approves $388K construction bid for new fluoride building at water plant
ALBION – The village’s water plant will soon have a new building to store fluoride.
The Village Board last week approved a $388,000 bid from Keeler Construction in Barre to do the work. The project will be funded with $312,000 grant from the state Department of Health, with the other $76,000 from the American Rescue Plan Act.
The project is expected to take about two months. Keeler was the lowest of two bidders. The other contractor submitted a bid for about $550,000.
The project consists of the construction of the Fluoridation Building at 14-by-14 feet, construction of building-related structural, architectural, mechanical (HVAC and plumbing) and electrical components and systems.
New fluoridation system components will need to be relocated, plus installation of new piping, valves and appurtenances, as well as site work at the water treatment plant.
The village was keeping the fluoridation chemicals in the water plant. Adam Rush, the chief water plant operator, said it was a subpar setup. The village hasn’t added fluoride to the water since the summer of 2021 but will start doing that again when the new concrete building is ready.