Change-order to cut cost by $50,000
BULLSKIN TWP. – With only 5 percent of construction under way for a multimillion-dollar sewerage project to parts of Bullskin and Connellsville townships, the contractor responsible for installing the Bullskin Township sewage collection system will save the project $50,000. Members of the Bullskin Township/Connellsville Township Joint Sewerage Authority Wednesday signed a change order for the savings from D&M Contracting of New Alexandria, which is about to begin construction along Moyer Road in Bullskin Township.
According to Dick Widmer, vice president of Widmer Engineering Inc. of Connellsville, the savings evolved from a meeting with the Bullskin Township supervisors in which D&M agreed to restore the road as close as possible to its original condition and use selective materials over the pipe it is laying.
“It’s a good start for us. It gives us a little breathing room,” said Widmer.
As one of three contractors for the project, D&M’s contract totals $2,349,642.
The contracting firm has since submitted its first bill, in the amount of $103,590.
The change order was one of several additions the authority approved for the $5.52 million project included in a lengthy report on the status of the project presented by Widmer.
The contractors are required to meet with Widmer monthly to address specific needs or any changes the project may encounter.
Since the project is being funded with loans of $350,000 and $1.5 million from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST), coupled with a $2.5 million grant secured through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Widmer said the authority will attempt to pay all construction costs from those accounts.
“We’re going to try and charge off as much as we can to the project, including any retainer fees,” said Widmer.
Widmer added that other costs associated with the project, such as legal and engineering fees and land purchases, will be paid for from the tap-in fees collected and lines of credit the authority has established.
As far as other changes, the authority approved credit lines of $51,380 for PENNVEST, $52,209 for the EPA and $54,447 for engineering and legal fees.
Widmer said the EPA will reimburse the authority 50.4 percent of construction costs up to the $2.5 million grant it pledged to the project, while 49.6 percent will be drawn down from PENNVEST.
The authority also approved the signing of a road bond for PennDOT and the second electrical service agreement with Allegheny Power at no charge.
In a separate matter, the authority heard from several residents affected by the project concerned with line extensions and costs to run the sewer lines from their homes to the tap.
Richard Kessler of Lower Tyrone Township asked if the authority could extend 300 feet of pipe in order to tap his business into the sewage.
Kessler noted that a housing development is also expected to get under way behind a motel that he owns in Pennsville that would provide the authority with additional customers.