LIVERMORE — The Board of Selectpersons voted unanimously Monday night to award the contract for a radon mitigation system to Goodwin Well & Water Inc. of North Turner. The system is needed at the Town Office and Fire Station to remove high levels of radon.

Goodwin Well & Water Inc. of Turner submitted a bid, as did Affordable Water Treatment LLC & Maine Radon Pro LLC of Litchfield. Goodwin proposed installing a water filtration system. No warranty was mentioned in the bid but it stated, “We routinely achieve 97-99 percent reduction in water radon with this system.” Total cost for this system would be $5,895.

The Litchfield company would use a filtration system for water and air. Radon levels in water would be reduced by 99-99.6 percent. This proposal would offer a one-year warranty on parts and labor; an additional two-year warranty from the manufacturer; and a 100 percent, 60-day money-back guarantee. Total cost for this would be $5,645 after a 5 percent multisystem discount.

At the last selectpersons’ meeting, a decision was tabled pending further research.

Selectperson Tom Gould told the board, “Those prices weren’t out of line.” One other system he looked into uses charcoal. Radioactive carbon is formed during radon removal, and the state will soon be banning those systems.

Gould said a company in Freeport offers a top-of-the-line system, but that level isn’t needed. He spoke with a Goodwin representative, and that person said the company would stand behind its work. Gould thought the town could get that in writing.

“Chances are that the radon is coming from the water,” Gould said. He thought that either system would work. Gould did caution that the bubble-up system requires much more maintenance annually, which would increase costs.

Board of Selectpersons Chairman Peter Castonguay said, “I’m inclined to go with Goodwin. They’re local, and less maintenance means a whole lot less headaches.”

The board voted unanimously to accept the Goodwin Well & Water Inc. bid of $5,895, providing a warranty is included.

In other business, the board tabled making a decision on hiring an engineer to design a sand/salt shed. Board members wanted time to review the four proposals received.

CES Inc. of Brewer put in a bid of $36,150. Auburn-based Community Dynamics’ bid was for $15,550. Plymouth Engineering Inc. of Plymouth submitted a bid of $17,200 and James W. Sewall from Old Town sent a bid of $23,900.

John Cleveland from Community Dynamics was at the meeting to answer questions. He said, “We don’t come to you with a predetermined building. We’ll talk with you and get preliminary estimates. Talk about exhaust, lights and size. It is all up to you.”

The board wanted time to read the proposals and see what is offered with each one. Administrative Assistant Carrie Castonguay suggested she make a side-by-side comparison with bullet points for the board. The board will consider the bids at its next meeting.

pharnden@sunmediagroup.net