February 28, 2008
Engineers Selected for Alamo Industrial Park

By Dave Maxwell, Staff Writer

It was announced at the February 19 regular meeting of the Lincoln County Commissioners that Sunrise Construction of Washington, Utah was being awarded the bid for engineering work at the Alamo Industrial Park.

Over the past couple of weeks, Commissioners received a number of bids on the project and narrowed the field of 12 to 2 finalists, Sunrise and Farr West, from Reno.

Representatives from both firms were on hand at the meeting and made short presentations on behalf of their companies.

Sunrise Vice-President Marv Wilson stated his company was qualified to do the project because of their 30-years experience and expertise on projects in southern Utah and Nevada similar to the Industrial Park and their experience in finding funding sources to help complete projects in rural communities. Sunrise is presently involved with several projects in Lincoln County, including the upgrades of the town parks in the City of Caliente.

Wilson said Engineer Joe Phillips, a native of Caliente, would serve as Project Manager, as requested by the Commission.

Farr West owner, Brent Farr, said his company is currently working on the sewer and water project for the Alamo General Improvement District to solve the arsenic water issues. He felt his company would be able to expand to do the engineering work at the Industrial Park. He said Farr West has also helped the Panaca Farmstead, and completed the Caliente Wellhead Protection Program a few years ago.

After deciding in early January 2008, not to apply for an Economic Development Administration grant, due to not having the matching funds necessary to qualify on hand, County Commissioners felt the best course would be to hire an engineering firm. The engineering firm would provide guidance on what would be needed to put in the necessary infrastructure on the 228-acre parcel of land, just a bit south of Alamo, that comprises the Industrial Park.

Commissioners felt that both companies were equally qualified and competent to do the project and had a hard time deciding to finally award the bid to Sunrise on a 3-1 vote. Commissioner Wade Poulsen was absent.

With both firms in Alamo, they agreed to work together to make sure the Alamo water treatment facility that Farr West is doing, would be ready to go online when Sunrise has completed its contract.