Oconomowoc gets some surprising bids on hydrant painting

By Scott Williams of the Journal Sentinel

Posted: May. 7, 2009 8:46 p.m.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.

So when Odling Construction heard that the City of Oconomowoc needed a contractor to paint 900 fire hydrants, the Delavan excavating firm decided to apply for the job.

Odling's bid: $549 per hydrant, or a total of nearly $500,000.

Another firm looking to diversify, Thomas A. Mason Co. of Milwaukee, asked for $465 per hydrant.

Fortunately for Oconomowoc taxpayers, an experienced hydrant painter, Appleton-based Davies Water, offered to do the job for $95 per hydrant.

Oconomowoc Utilities Director Dennis Bednarski said he never would have agreed to pay anything close to $500 per hydrant.

"That was just astronomical," he said.

Representatives of Odling and Thomas Mason said they were just searching for work - and were not trying to gouge Oconomowoc taxpayers.

Steve Macaione, president of Thomas Mason, said the depressed economy has many firms venturing into unknown territory, in some cases without really knowing how much to charge.

"Everyone looks at projects a little different," he said. "There are a lot of odd numbers out there."

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