Columbus Town Council members are not pleased that completion of major rehabilitation work at the town’s more than forty-year-old wastewater treatment plant will be some three months later than originally planned. They do acknowledge that the quality of the work, which will probably be complete this August, has been very good.
The original completion date was announced to be April 16, 2014, but last summer’s constant, heavy rains were partly responsible for extending the date to June 20. Current completion estimate is for this August.
Columbus Mayor Eric McIntyre said that given the weather-caused delays, the general contractor, Buchannon and Sons, should have had more people on the job, at least every other weekend. Someone from Buchannon and Sons will attend Council’s next meeting, July 10. “It’s his (Buchannon and Sons) responsibility to get the job done,” said McIntire.
W.K. Dickson is the engineering firm supervising the project. Dickson engineer Brian Tripp said that Buchannon and Sons has worked diligently, but Tripp admitted that the work could have been completed in less time. Tripp has also asked council to pay his firm an additional $20,000 to cover its (including his) continued costs until the facility is completed.
Councilman Richard Hall asked Tripp how much he is requesting to continue working on the wastewater treatment plant project. Tripp explained that W.K. Dickson’s fees for the last 14 months average out to $6,250 per month for construction administration and $14,500 for construction observation for a total of $20,750 per month. Tripp is asking Council to consider allocating $5,000 for construction administration and another $15,000 for construction observation for a total of $20,000 for payment of WK Dickson services through to the July 2014 council meeting.
“Why should citizens pay $20,000 because the contractor ran late?” asked Councilman Joshua Denton. Tripp stated that due to various savings on the project, the town is getting back some $37,000 per month, which will more than compensate for the $20,000. He pointed out that some $20,000 was originally budgeted for testing of concrete and soil at the construction site, but that less than $10,000 of that is needed, thus saving the residents more money.
“I’m not jumping on you,” Denton told Tripp. Denton said he wishes to make sure that the citizens’ money is being spent wisely. Councilwoman Margaret Metcalf was also not pleased with Tripp‘s request for additional funding while the work is being completed. “Why are we paying you $20,000? What have you done to earn it?”
Tripp responded that the amount will help cover shop drawings and other items. Denton asked Tripp to clarify what the payment covers. Mr. Tripp explained the payment covers one person on-site each day for observation, meeting attendance, engineering services and fees for processing paperwork to continue the project.
Outgoing town manager Jonathan Kanipe defended Tripp, saying that he has done a good job. Kanipe also mentioned that Tripp has spoken with the contractor, and that council can speed up the work only by instituting liquidated damages.
Columbus Attorney Baily Nager explained that liquidated damages are a method of withholding some money per day if a job is late being completed. Nager explained that this is a way to avoid going to court for breach of contract. The contractor had until June 20, 2014, to complete the rehabilitation project. After June 20, the contractor will incur $1,250.00 per day in liquidation damages.
The Town of Columbus took out a $2.5 million loan to cover costs of the project. Total cost is unknown, pending completion.
Council members and Tripp also discussed some specific items needing extra work at the facility.
During the startup of the new clarifier, it was discovered that the mechanism needs a second electrical wire run back to the control panel and wired to a limit switch.
The limit switch is a safety feature that will not allow the clarifier to function if it bumps into a solid body. The clarifier mechanism cannot be started until these components are in place or it will void the warranty. Tripp is unsure of the cost of the change at this time, but has estimated the cost to be around $10,000.
Denton asked Tripp how this was overlooked. Tripp explained that the manufacturer should have told the contractor of the additional wire, and the contractor should have included this wire and switch in the bid or shop drawings. Councilman Ricky McCallister asked if there will be a cost difference. Tripp feels the cost should only be the cost of the second wire run from the clarifier to the motor control center and the labor. The cost is more in labor than the wire and limit switch. Tripp did not give a cost estimate for the wire and labor.
Metcalf asked Tripp to explain why the clarifier does not work. Mr. Tripp explained that the new clarifier uses different technology. The contractors were under the impression that it would function with the current layout. Metcalf feels this is carelessness and should have never happened. Tripp explained that these are the reasons there are contingencies. The contingencies and the change orders are still under 3 percent of the budgeted 5 percent for contingencies. Tripp estimated $60,000 left in the contingency fund.
Hall asked if everything had been gone over to find any other issues. Tripp discussed another change order to run a separate wire run for a “hot box”. This is a water backflow preventer that keeps the water from freezing. Tripp assured Council that this would incur a nominal cost.
Tripp discussed a three-component pending change order including the stairs to the clarifier; a credit for not demolishing the lab building but keeping it and changing it to a storage building; and the new lab office that was going to be built to tie into an existing gravity line but after further consideration it was not recommended due to sewer line deterioration and will need to be connected to an existing line that is located further away.  This three-component change order would total $3,552.50; which includes a $1,390.50 credit for not demolishing the existing lab building and an additional five days construction.