CRESCENT BAR — Grant County PUD commissioners voted to award a $1.7 million bid to KRCI, LLC, East Wenatchee, for recreation improvements on Crescent Bar Island. The vote came at the commission’s regular meeting Tuesday.

The company’s bid was about $500,000 lower than the engineering estimate of $2.215 million.

The improvements are the second phase of a multi-year project – more years than first anticipated – to fulfill the requirements of the utility’s operating license.

The contract requires that this phase of the project be completed by April 27, 2018.

The project includes a two-lane boat launch and a boarding float, on-island boat and trailer parking, a bathroom and more sand for the beaches on the riverbank. The northernmost beach was bid as a separate item, since it’s apart from the others and would be more difficult to reach.

When the project is completed, improvements will include upgraded camping facilities on Crescent Bar Island and the riverbank. Boat launches are planned on- and off-island, along with upgraded water and wastewater treatment facilities on the island. There’s also a swimming beach and walking trail on the island, and picnic facilities and playgrounds on- and off-island.

Commissioners also received a recommendation for a contractor for a separate but related project, to build the new wastewater treatment facility.

The bid is scheduled to be awarded at the commission’s Oct. 10 meeting. Utility district employees have recommended awarding the contract to Clearwater Construction and Management, Spokane.

The company’s apparent low bid is $3,265,200 to replace the existing sewer plant. The bid is about $100,000 below the engineering estimates.

The existing facility isn’t big enough for amount of use the island receives now, according to a memo to commissioners from PUD employees. The work must be completed by Nov. 1, 2018.

Crescent Bar was the subject of years of controversy between the PUD and people who leased property on the island, and eventually sparked a lawsuit. The two sides came to agreement in 2015. The PUD took over management of the rec facilities on the island and along the shore.

The PUD’s operating license always includes recreation projects, and Crescent Bar was among them. The actual plan was delayed while under consideration from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, but eventually was approved in 2016.