Lifeguard Grace Nichols watches over the pool at Alameda Park last summer. Butler Eagle File Photo

The county commissioners on Wednesday, April 10, awarded a $643,000 contract to replaster the pool at Alameda Waterpark.

The contract calls for the work to be completed by May 17, and includes penalties for every day after that it takes to finish the work, solicitor Julie Graham said.

County officials said lightning, not rain, is the only acceptable reason to delay completion.

All State Technology of New Jersey was awarded the contract, which includes a base bid of $549,000, as well as $54,000 to replace the finish on the gutter, which is part of the water return system under the pool deck, and $40,000 to provide and install a winter cover over the pool.

All State’s bid was the only bid that was submitted on time, Graham said.

Bids were due by 4 p.m. March 26 in the controller’s office, but two bids were delivered March 27. Graham said the two other bids were not opened and returned to the bidders.

The commissioners only opened All State’s bid at their March 27 meeting, but tabled voting due to the cost. The bid included the base bid and five alternate bids for additional work that came to $184,000, for a total of $733,000. The anticipated cost of the project had been less than $400,000.

After discussing the bid with a consultant, the commissioners decided to vote on the base bid and two alternate bids, Leslie Osche, commissioners chairwoman, said Wednesday.

In January, the county commissioners hired Integrated Aquatics of Doylestown for $37,500 as the consultant to prepare the bid specifications and inspect the work.

The project was initiated after pockmarks were found on the bottom the pool last year. It’s been about 10 years since the pool has been replastered.