NORRIDGEWOCK — Sewer commissioners are looking at choosing from among six engineering firms to come up with a long-term plan for maintenance and repairs at the aging Norridgewock Wastwater Treatment Facility.

The commission received six bids ranging from $14,200 to $37,050 for the project and will narrow their choices down to three firms next week.

“I think any one of them will do what we need. It’s just a matter of cost,” said the commission’s vice chairman, Josh Chartrand, at a meeting Wednesday. “I think what we want to do is look at the lowest price and the highest price and make sure we are comparing apples to apples.”

The sewer commission has been looking at hiring an engineering firm to conduct a review of the plant for several months after former Town Manager Michelle Flewelling warned that malfunctions at the nearly 25-year-old plant could lead to state fines.

In January the facility was found in violation of Department of Environmental Protection regulations after biochemical oxygen demand numbers, which measure water clarity, were found not to be up to standards. That problem has been corrected and the facility is not in violation.

Around the time the violation was cited, commissioners also voted to raise sewer rates by 10 percent in an effort to address the department’s ongoing indebtedness to the town, as well as to request bids from engineering firms.

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The commission received bids from A.E. Hodsdon, Dirigo Engineering, Olver Associates Inc., Tata & Howard, Woodard & Curan and Wright-Pierce.

The next meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Town Office.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, Kristina Gossman was reappointed chairwoman of the commission and Chartrand was appointed vice chairman.

Rachel Ohm — 612-2368

rohm@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @rachel_ohm


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