Madison Elementary pipes will be replaced over the summer for $189,000 – Shaw Local

2022-03-24 11:42:08 By : Ms. Joey Chung

The Division Street entrance to Madison Elementary School, at left, and Reagan Middle School, at right, appears in a file photo from Jan. 26.. Pipe replacement will take place during the summer at Madison Elementary. (Troy Taylor)

DIXON — A bid of $189,000 was chosen by the Dixon Public Schools board of education for an overhaul of water pipes at Madison Elementary School.

The project was awarded to Mechanical Inc. of Freeport, which does business as Helm Mechanical.

Three bids were vetted by Bill Taylor of Green Associates. Loescher Heating and Air Conditioning of Freeport and MO-ST Plumbing and Mechanical of Rock Falls also submitted bids.

Helm Mechanical had the lowest base bid at $157,900. Each bid was accompanied by a secondary bid to replace the water heat. Helm Mechanical bid $31,100 for that.

Kevin Schultz, director of the building and ground, explained that the project will replace 63-year-old galvanized piping in the school. In addition, shutoff valves will be installed for each classroom.

The project is to be completed over the summer and be finished in time for the first week of school in August.

Schultz said the district’s biggest liability right now is having one of the pipes bust over a weekend. As it stands, shutoff valves are only for entire wings.

Superintendent Margo Empen said because of the pipe replacement all summer activities held at Madison will have to be moved to other district facilities.

When the project was first considered in 2015, the estimated cost was $175,000.

Was named editor for Saukvalley.com and the Gazette and Telegraph in 2021. An Illinois native, he has been a reporter or editor in daily newspapers since 1989.

Copyright © 2021 Shaw Local News Network

Copyright © 2021 Shaw Local News Network