LIMESTONE, Maine — WJ Paving’s $7,900 bid for replacing pavement in the fire department parking lot won out against two others during a Sept. 19 Select Board meeting.
The project includes removing and replacing pavement along the front, north, and rear sides of the building. Specifications outlined by the town call for cutting joints with a saw and using tack to seal joints prior to new installation, disposing of all old pavement, placing pavement on a grade to shed water away from the building, and rolling and compacting the pavement so it is capable of withstanding the weight of fire trucks.
Town officials also requested that the project be completed “no later than Oct. 19” this year and that work only be done when the temperature is above 45 degrees and rising.
The parking lot issues were brought up during Limestone’s annual meeting on June 13, when one resident raised questions about a $9,375 proposed increase in the fire department budget for repaving the parking lot, and suggested spreading the costs out over time.
Fire Chief Jon Poitras said at the time that the department was not planning to pave the entire parking lot, but that certain problems needed to be fixed soon or else “they would pose a greater threat and cost more to repair down the road.”
Poitras also indicated then that the total cost of repairs “may be less” than the allocated $9,375, a prediction that ended up coming true.
During the Sept. 19 meeting, Selectman Fred Pelletier opened the WJ Paving’ bid, which was lower than the other two $8,200 bids. He noted that the paper only said “WJ Paving” and “$7,900,” but did not include a phone number. Other members of the board and audience, however, said they knew the owner of the company and that he would meet the outlined specifications.
Pelletier said he was concerned that the bid did not indicate WJ Paving would follow the specifications and Selectboard Chair Tom Albert said this should be implied in the fact that WJ Paving bid on those specifications.
To be safe, Selectman Walt Elliott suggested amending the motion to accept this bid on the condition that the contractor agrees to meet all the specifications.
Albert agreed with the suggestion and selectmen voted in favor of awarding the bid on those terms.
