SNOW HILL – The spray irrigation project at Eagles Landing Golf Course is expected to move forward following a contract decision this week.
On Tuesday the Worcester County Commissioners voted to award the contract for the installation of a spray irrigation system at the Ocean City course to Leibold Irrigation of Illinois. Though the company was not the low bidder, it was recommended by the county’s consultant and golf course staff.
“I want to hire the company that would do the job right,” Commissioner Joe Mitrecic said.
Since 2014, the county and the Town of Ocean City have been working toward the completion of a project that would allow for the treated effluent from Mystic Harbour Wastewater Treatment Facility to be used to water the greens at Eagles Landing. County officials agreed to provide a state-of-the-art irrigation system capable of handling task.
Though the necessary approvals from state agencies were slow to come, the project is getting closer to reality with the county’s contract award this week. On Tuesday Public Works Director John Tustin told the commissioners four bids were received and reviewed by Michael Kuhn and Associates, the irrigation consultant hired for the project. Though the bid from National Lawn Sprinklers Inc. was the lowest at $1,525,000, Kuhn had concerns with it and said the company did not meet the necessary qualification requirements. Kuhn recommended Leibold Irrigation, which bid $1,750,400 for the project.
“Mr. Kuhn has had extensive experience with them,” Tustin said. “They’re fully cognizant of the project requirements.”
In Kuhn’s findings after reviewing the bid submittals, he wrote that the company would be an excellent fit for the project.
“The Town of Ocean City should feel confident they are getting a very qualified contractor to install their system,” he wrote. “This is obviously important when installing infrastructure that is intended to last for 30-plus years.”
Mitrecic, who made the motion to approve the contract with Leibold, said Eagles Landing management supported the decision.
Commissioner Ted Elder pointed out that none of the bidders — two from New York, one from Illinois and one from Nebraska — were local.
“All these companies are so far away,” he said.
Tustin said the project had been advertised locally and nationally and that those were the only companies who bid on the work. He indicated golf course irrigation was a specialized field and not something the average residential sprinkler company would do.
“These are national firms,” he said. “This is their business.”
The commissioners voted 6-0, with Commissioner Bud Church absent, to approve the contract.
