Vienna awards Pond Run dredging contract at less than half of $1M estimate

Vienna awards Pond Run dredging contract at less than half of $1M estimateThe West Virginia utility board approved a $447,725 bid from J.C. Bosley Construction for the dredging project, capitalizing on favorable pricing to advance its broader stormwater management strategy following a year of heavy rainfall.

J.C. Bosley Construction won the Pond Run dredging contract with a $447,725 bid, significantly below the $1 million project estimate and a competing $591,900 bid.

The board is verifying the ownership of two dry dams currently listed under a private developer; if the city cannot acquire the rights, those line items will be deducted from the final contract.

The utility announced the receipt of a $500,000 grant from the state DEP for the upcoming Phase 1 28th Street storm drainage improvements.

Officials authorized the drafting of bid specifications for a new estimated $290,000 stormwater project on Charles Drive to alleviate severe local flooding.

The city's updated MS4 stormwater permit goes into effect next month, eliminating previous rainfall water quality monitoring requirements.

The Vienna Utility Board in West Virginia has approved a $447,725 contract to J.C. Bosley Construction for the Pond Run dredging project, securing a price that came in at less than half of the city's $1 million estimate. During the board's August 12 meeting, Public Works Director Craig Metz presented the results of the two-bidder process. The only other competitor, Jimmy Harper Construction, submitted a proposal of $591,900. Metz noted that the highly favorable pricing could allow the city to expand the linear footage of the dredging work if needed, though the project is currently slated to begin in October. One outstanding issue is the ownership of two dry dams included in the project scope. While the city has maintained the structures for nearly three decades, recent deed research indicated they are legally owned by Greenmont Hills Incorporated. If the city cannot secure the property rights, the specific line items for those dams will be subtracted from the awarded contract. The dredging award comes as Vienna ramps up its broader stormwater management efforts following a period of heavy rainfall that has left the city 17 inches above its normal annual precipitation. During the meeting, the board confirmed the receipt of a $500,000 grant from the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for Phase 1 of the 28th Street storm drainage improvements. That project is expected to go to bid in early 2027. Additionally, the board authorized staff to begin preparing bid specifications for a new flood mitigation project on Charles Drive. Estimated at $290,000, the project will install new catch basins and 15-inch piping to connect to an existing 24-inch concrete river outfall, bypassing a deeply buried and debris-filled manhole system that has caused severe local flooding. The board may opt to phase the project to manage costs. In a separate regulatory update, the board reviewed its newly updated Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit, which goes into effect in September. The new permit eliminates previous water quality monitoring requirements during rainfall events but introduces new rules for determining stormwater flows, which will prompt an upcoming revision to the city's stormwater ordinance.