(This story was updated to correct the total estimated cost of the state water interconnection project to approximately $57.8 million.)
The Ventura City Council approved a construction contract with an underground utility company for a project to connect with the state water system on July 14 after hearing a protest from a competing company.
Council members voted 4-1 to award the contract to Sam Hill & Sons Inc., which submitted the lowest bid at approximately $38.8 million. The contract will include a total maximum contingency of approximately $5.8 million, for a total not-to-exceed amount of approximately $44.7 million…