PORT TOWNSEND — The Port of Port Townsend commissioners have postponed until today possible action on awarding a contract for the proposed AB Docks renovation project at Boat Haven marina.
The port commissioners originally planned to meet on Wednesday to consider the contract.
Instead, they will meet at 3:30 p.m. today in their chambers at the port offices, 375 Hudson St., Port Townsend.
The special meeting was delayed to give legal notice and add a closed executive session to the special meeting, port officials said.
The port commissioners, after receiving nine bids of $3 million or more two weeks ago, will hear the port staff’s recommendation.
The apparent low bidder was Redside Construction LLC of Port Gamble at $3.08 million, said port Executive Director Larry Crockett, but he and port officials must ensure that the contractor would be both “responsive and responsible” to carry out the work.
The project will replace aging recreational boat docks and slips for about 100 boats.
All but one of the bids opened at the port offices Thursday were under the port’s engineering estimate of $3.96 million.
Out-of-water work on the docks is expected to begin shortly after the contract is awarded but actual removal of the old and installation of the new docks cannot take place until after the annual Wooden Boat Festival ends Sept. 12.
In-water work would have to be completed by Feb. 15 when the state closes the allowable in-water work period intended to protect migrating salmon.
Financing has been secured for renovation of the AB Docks built in 1967, Crockett said, with the revenue bonds a lower prices because of the stock market decline.
