By Dave Fidlin
Correspondent
After extensive review and discussion, the Waterford Farm Drainage District project – lauded by officials as an opportunity to correct ongoing flooding problems – will begin soon.
The Waterford Village Board and members of the independent board overseeing the drainage district agreed Dec. 12 to several amendments to the previously announced $1.1 million Community Development Block Grant funding for the grandiose effort.
The drainage district comprises 860 acres in the Village and Town of Waterford and the Town of Norway. New infrastructure – including a lift station and piping – are planned in the Village to alleviate past flooding concerns there.
The Village and drainage district approved a joint intergovernmental agreement that splits any costs, 50-50, that exceed the grant amount.
Both parties also agreed to a $1,098,736 contract bid by Mann Bros. Inc. for actual construction of the storm water improvements.
Presenting a worst-case scenario, Steve Wurster of civil engineering firm Ruekert-Mielke – the firm contracted to provide preliminary data on the project – said unexpected issues, including soil and ground water conditions, could result in higher than anticipated costs for the work.
Although it is not expected, Wurster said additional costs could increase the work by as much as $100,000, meaning the Village and drainage district each would each be responsible for $50,000.
The pledge between the two parties has been viewed as contingency money – an important part of any construction project because of the nature of the work.
Additionally, the Village Board acted solo on two amendments for its contract with Ruekert-Mielke for the preliminary work leading up to the construction bidding.
The firm will receive an additional $1,200 for wetland surveying and an additional $6,000 for more time than anticipated bidding out the project.
Both amendments drew considerable discussion by the board with reactions mixed.
“My husband works on bids,” Trustee Judy Spencer said. “Once he bids, he bids. That’s where I’m troubled.”
But Wurster said Ruekert-Mielke already went beyond the scope of work when other unexpected occurrences cropped up throughout the design and review process for the improvements.
“We’re only asking for what’s fair,” he said.
During the lengthy discussion, the full scope of the project also came into play.
Both sides agreed that the project ideally should reach the county bike path in an effort to optimize the likelihood of alleviating flooding in the area. There is storm sewer underneath the bike trail that has collapsed and currently is in pieces.
“It will function (without reaching the bike path) … but it will work better if it reaches the bike path,” Village Attorney Marcia Hasenstab said.
While cost concerns were raised throughout the discussion, the Village Board agreed spending some money would be a prudent move in light of the $1.1 million grant that eventually will be distributed to the Village from the State.
“We have a responsibility to our people to do the best job,” Village President Tom Roanhouse said. “We’re within an eyelash of having some relief.”
Village Administrator Rebecca Ewald said the timeline for the work remains on target, with the lift station slated for completion this spring and the overhauled pipe network being addressed in the summer.
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