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For once the economic downturn worked to the advantage of the City of Maryville, which saved an estimated $494,600 on Maryville Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant expansion.

Three bids from subcontractors were awarded on plant improvements at the Maryville City Council meeting Tuesday night.

Jack Graham, Maryville assistant director of Water Quality Control, said copper prices are down and he thinks the global economic situation contributed to the bids that came in lower than original estimates.

"There are no jobs out there for bid due to the state of the bond market and the fact people are not undertaking construction projects now," Graham said. "There are good contractors bidding low to keep their crews busy and we're benefitting from that."

The electrical contract was awarded to low bidder National Electric Company Inc. of Johnson City at $2,075,000. The engineer had estimated it would cost $2,690,000.

Work on miscellaneous metals and fiberglass went to low bidder Judy Construction Company of Cynthiana, Ky., at $390,800. The original estimate of the cost was $402,600.

The contract on construction of the underground building was $132,200 above the engineer's estimate due to the fact that multiple exits must be included in case of fire, Graham said. The engineer thought he had met federal legislation, but additional exits had to be included.

The project went to low bidder Judy Construction at $522,200.

In other action council:

Presented the national 2008 Savvy Award to Foothills Fall Festival Committee.

Approved on second and final reading an ordinance expanding the High Density Residential district to collector or arterial streets within 800 feet of U.S. 411 South or West Lamar Alexander Parkway.

Rezoned on final reading rezoning property along Big Springs Road known as Bridgeway Village off West Lamar Alexander Parkway from Residential to High Density Residential.

Approved on first reading annexing about five acres off Dotson Memorial Road behind ALCOA Tenn Federal Credit Union. Council also approved on first reading rezoning the property from County Suburbanizing to City Business/Transportation and adopted a plan of services for the area.

Passed on first reading an amendment to the land use regulations requiring a different landscaping buffer where topography varies between residential and commercial developments.

Appointed Mayor Tom Taylor, Fran Leonard, Heath Claiborne, Doug Overbey, Bill Robinson, Ed Harmon, Joy Bishop and Amy Morton to the Civic Arts Center Advisory Board.

Reappointed Hilda Walker and Ed Delozier to Maryville Housing Authority Board.

Appointed David Cockrill to Blount Memorial Hospital Board.

Appointed Councilman Fred Metz to Maryville Planning Commission.

Council again honored the late councilman Ron Ivens, whose term Metz was appointed to serve out. The group will plant a tree, to be selected by the Ivens family, on the Greenbelt in his honor.