Generator bid almost $300,000

Bihm Electric of Eunice was the only bidder Wednesday to provide and install a standby generator at the city's wastewater plant.

The firm bid $294,500. It's offer was taken under advisement.

A representative of a Lake Charles firm was present and said his company prepared a bid and sent it by private letter carrier, but it had not arrived by 10 a.m., the advertised bid-opening time.

Actually the opening didn't start until a few minutes after 10, delayed while city officials contacted various municipal departments to see if the bid package had reached one of them by mistake.

The city wants to install a 500 KW diesel generator with the appropriate electrical connections and concrete pad.

The generator would allow the plant to continue operating in times of extended power outage, a capability it does not presently have.