Sand sends cost of project up (09/08/06)

An unexpected find of sandy soil along Park Street is going to cost Portland more than $10,000 extra for a sewer project.

Workers from LPI Paving and Excavating, contractors for the Gerber gravity sewer project "hit bad soil," Mayor Bruce Hosier told Portland's Board of Public Works Thursday afternoon.

The additional fill dirt needed as well as additional necessary paving resulted in the request for a change order for $10,590 from Triad Associates, Indianapolis, engineers for the project. The funds will be paid to LPI. The invoice was approved by the board.

Hosier explained that the sandy soil kept caving in at the site.

"It was a potential safety danger for the crews," Hosier said.

The area was located just north of East Main Street on Park Street.

Additionally Thursday afternoon, the board approved Portland Police Chief Bob Sours' request to purchase two new police cruisers.

Sours presented quotes from Ken Kunkle Chevrolet and Oldsmobile, Portland, for $19,293 each for two 2007 Chevrolet Impalas; Les Wenning Ford of Fort Recovery for $20,413 each for two 2007 Crown Victorias; and $22,000 each from Moser Motors of Portland and Berne, also for two Crown Victorias.

The board approved accepting Kunkle's quote, noting the money is budgeted for the purchase.

Sours said the two used vehicles the department has will not be traded in on the new ones, but will be sold at the city's public auction to be held later this year.

Delivery is expected after the first of the year, Sours said.[[In-content Ad]]