Quichapa wells: Oct. 14 agenda lists second contract for Grimshaw Drilling at $801,365

Cedar City's Oct. 7, 2026 work meeting packet describes the Quichapa Wells Rehabilitation Project as part of the city's Pressure Reduction and Chlorination project. Wells 5, 6, 7 and 8 need development and test pumping to improve flow and reduce sand production, the memo says. ^[1]

The work was split into two contracts so two drillers could work at the same time during the winter. The city received three bids. ^[1]

The bids

For Contract 1, covering wells 5 and 8, Widdison Well Services, Inc., of Draper bid $574,970; KP Ventures Well Drilling & Pump Co., Inc., of Cottonwood, Arizona, bid $637,775; and Grimshaw Drilling of Enoch bid $681,740. ^[1]

For Contract 2, covering wells 6 and 7, Widdison bid $783,925, Grimshaw bid $801,365 and KP Ventures bid $857,150. ^[1]

The memo's funding table lists $1,500,000 in water fund account 51-40-740, added in a recent budget revision. It uses Widdison's amounts for both contracts plus $60,000 for contingency, for $1,418,895 in costs and a balance of $81,105. ^[1]

The local-bidder question

Staff wrote that Grimshaw was within 5% of the low bidder on Contract 2 and that whether Grimshaw qualifies as a local bidder under the city's purchasing policy would be addressed at the meeting. ^[1]

The memo also says Grimshaw acknowledged the project's first addendum on its bid form but did not include the signed acknowledgment page with its bid, and submitted the page after the deadline. ^[1]

The council's Oct. 14 consent agenda lists awards to Widdison Well Services for $574,970 and to Grimshaw Drilling for $801,365. Grimshaw's amount is $17,440 more than Widdison's Contract 2 bid. The Oct. 14 packet contains no memo explaining the selection. ^[2][1]

The Ledger has not seen minutes of the Oct. 7 or Oct. 14 meetings.