And for Cox, who works with the city’s engineering firm, BG Consultants, it was a welcome change in mood.

Last March, the city solicited bids for a new sewage treatment plant, to be constructed at the site of the existing plant. That was about the same time the United States declared war on Iraq.

Consequently, only two bidders responded — and they were up to $1.2 million over estimates.

The city again sought bids earlier this month. And the news was good.

“For once, I stand in front of you with some good news,” Cox told council members last week. ”… We’ve got good prices all the way around.”

The city received three bids from construction contractors to handle the project.

The low bid of $2,763,000 came from BRB Contractors in Topeka.

That’s more than $700,000 lower than bids received in March, Cox said.

And bids for 16 major pieces of equipment, Cox said, ranged from $923,906 to $1,187,049. Cox recommended, and the council agreed, to approve BRB’s bid and the low bid for the equipment purchases.

That brings the total project cost to $3,686,906.

After the vote, council member Velda Roberts had just one comment.

“Hallelujah,” she said.

Now, Cox and Kathy Bard, the assistant city administrator, must draw up contracts and other documents that must be approved by state officials before work can go forward on the new sewer plant.

“Kathy and I have a lot of paperwork to do now,” Cox said, after shaking hands with Mayor Dave Taylor.