Phase two of a Hennessey drainage project will have to be cut almost in half after the lowest of three bids was $599,525.33 instead of an estimated $365,000 Low bidder at the Oct. 10 opening, Krapff Reynolds Construction Co. of Oklahoma City, has agreed to a $232,173.33 deduction in the project.

That brings it down to $367,352, Town Administrator Tiffany Tillman told board members during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 8.

She said Cowan Group Engineering recommended the board accept the reduced bid.

Lowering the bid will require the town to “shorten” the project, Tillman said.

This phase two of drainage work will start soon and run from 5th Street to Oklahoma Avenue and work on funding for the Oak Street drainage issues will start next year in phase three.

To get the project to “come into budget,” the board accepted the Krapff Reynolds bid and approved changes in CDBC grant requests with the State Department of Commerce.

Other bidders were Jackson Civil, Enid ($640,233.49) and J. Lee Enterprises LLC, Edmond ($689,112.67).

Comprehensive Plan

The board spent another 45 minutes in the meeting watching a video of the town’s “Comprehensive Plan” that was prepared by Susmita Som, Northern Oklahoma Development Authority community planner. Work on the plan started a few years ago and was unanimously approved by the board.

There are 170 pages in the printed document and Tillman said it is on the town’s website.

Then Harold Shaw handed her his phone and said he couldn’t find it.

She had her phone in her hand and said it wasn’t there, but she’d check with Angie Bruner to make sure it’s on the site. Bruner said Thursday night that it’s on the site listed as 2022 Comprehensive Plan.

At the meeting

All board members were present: Mayor Bert Gritz, Vice Mayor Clif Vogt, Trustees Richard Simunek, Harold Shaw and David Jones, and Town Clerk Kati Walters was minutes clerk.

Tillman was the only town employee at the meeting In addition to Som, others in the audience were Soloman Pardo Jr., Cindy Mendoza, Frank Patton, Scott and Karel Hajek, and Jennifer Firgard, NODA grant specialist.

Town Trustees met at 6 p.m. after a 5:30 p.m. Tuesday meeting of the Planning Board. See planning board story in Wednesday’s edition.