The Whitefish City Council last week awarded the contract for Phase 2 of the south Whitefish water tank project to Neuman Construction for $2,346,332.  

Phase 2 includes the construction of an 18-inch water transmission line from the water tank, located at the city shop on West 18th Street, to Highway 93. The work includes directional drilling under Highway 93 and several hydrant leads, fire services and water service crossings. 

The city received five bids for Phase 2, and the low bid from Neuman Construction is about $250,000 below the engineer's estimate of $2.6 million. 

This part of the project will be paid for with cash from the water budget.  

The council approved the contract for the first phase, the construction of a 1-million-gallon elevated storage tank, on March 2. Phase 3, still in the design phase, includes an additional 18-inch water transmission line and a booster station. 

Councilor Ben Davis led the meeting in the absence of Mayor John Muhlfeld, Deputy Mayor Frank Sweeney and Councilor Andy Feury. No members of the public were present and the meeting was adjourned in less than 10 minutes. 

Councilor Steve Qunell acknowledged the accomplishments of his daughter, who just finished her swimming career in Evansville, Indiana. He noted she’s an 18-time all-American, won four national championships, earned multiple runners-up, and was a four-time academic all-American.