Committee considers pipe replacement, change orders to wastewater treatment plant construction

The utilities committees of the Hillsboro City Council met to discuss a request to approve the installation of a new pipe near Highland Drive and change orders for the construction at the city's wastewater treatment plant. 

Committee chairperson Dave Shoemaker said that a request, which he felt was reasonable, that a water line be replaced from West Main Street to Highland Drive. 

"There are patches on top of patches," Shoemaker said. "There comes a time when you can only patch so much, and then you have to replace it."

Shoemaker said that McCarty and Associates had estimated it would cost approximately $131,000 to install. 

There is approximately $266,000 currently in the city' water fund Shoemaker said, according to Hillsboro Auditor Gary Lewis.

The water fund is separate from the city's general fund, in which the city is facing a possible deficit by the end of 2011. 

"There's more than enough funds to do the job," Shoemaker said. 

Hillsboro Safety and Service Director Ralph Holt told the committee that if a new pipe is installed the city will repave "the whole length of the street."

The current pipe is a 4-inch pipe, and the proposed installation will be a 6-inch pipe, to accommodate all residences on the street, Holt said. 

The committee voted 3-0 to recommend that a full council approve the installation of the pipe. 

Holt then reported on a change order was needed for work on the wastewater treatment plant. Holt said council must approve any change order that was needed that exceeded $25,000.

Through the course of construction, Holt said that between the contractor and the engineer there are changes that are needed, and sometimes it saves money but, "more often than not is costs more money."

The bulk of the costs of the change order in question, Holt said, is to bring in extra dirt at the work site because the indigenous soil is too sandy and not adequate for the structure. That is a cost of around $22,000, he said, for just the soil. 

Shoemaker said that he had gone out to view the construction, which is located in Liberty Park, and that it was 28 percent completed, with 60 percent of the concrete poured. Shoemaker encouraged the other committee members to go tour the facility. He then made a motion that the committee recommend to a full council that they approve the increase. The committee voted 3-0 to make the recommendation to council. 

Shoemaker said that he was doing additional research on the third committee agenda item, the consideration legislation for dye testing the storm sewers. Shoemaker said he was looking into the matter to see what elements and wording needed to be on the books for the city and he would report back.