Francesville anticipating competitive bids for sewer system project

Francesville will be opening bids for the sewer system upgrade project and the hope is for some competitive bids. 
During a regular meeting on Nov. 21, council members Pam Antrim and Andy Durham were updated on the current status of the project. 
Water superintendent Greg Stone said the prebid meeting involving the project went fairly well. 
“There will be four bidders on it instead of two,” Stone said. “One of the companies that bid the first time around declined to bid this time.”  
Two of the contractors that are anticipated to bid visited the sewer lagoons site.  
Stone said the costs of the project could be less if the company does not have to remove the sludge from the ponds. The amount of sludge was recently tested in 30 places in the ponds. It was estimated that there is about 7 inches of sludge in them. 
“That would make a drastic difference in the price if they don’t have to get the sludge out,” Stone said. 
To remove the sludge, the town would be charged to move it by the gallon because it has to stay wet. 
The bids will be opened on Dec. 1. 
Councilman Kyle Trent was absent from the meeting.