BWD Engineering Committee

Wednesday - April 21: The Buckeye Water District's Engineering Committee held a Progress Meeting Wednesday morning at the Water Treatment Plant. Present at the meeting was BWD Board President Mike Ryan, Trustee Bob Wines, District Manager Al DeAngelis, Fiscal Officer Sara Crouch and Salineville Mayor Dave Berta. Also present was RCAP Field Agent Joyce Gray, Dallis Dawson & Assocs. Dallis Dawson & Jon Blair, Phoenix Asphalt Co. President Jim Demuth, Tucson Incorporates V.P. Kevin Ayers, Foremen Ed Crawford and Phil Ames of A.C. Supply. The purpose of the meeting was for a progress up-date on the Salineville Waterline Part B project. Tucson is the contractor on the job and they are part of the Phoenix Asphalt Co.

Project foreman Ed Crawford reported that 4,887 feet of pipe is in the ground. The bore under Route 39 is complete. The bore under the brick street going into the village will be started April 22. Also on Thursday clean up and seeding was to begin. Demuth reported that as of April 17 they are done with 39% of the project, 38% of the specified contract time and 45% on the dollars. Crawford remarked they were approximately a week and a half behind schedule but are now fairly caught up.

At the last meeting on April 10 discussion was held on a pressure relief valve that Tucson was having problems acquiring as specified in the contract. Demuth advised that the valve has been ordered but may not ship untl July 9. If that happens it will require an extension on the contract. BWD Board President Ryan indicated that they are not ready to talk about extensions just yet. It will be considered at later meetings. In the mean time everything can be completed and pressure testing up to that point be done.

Getting ready to move out on Route 39 Demuth advised they will be using off-duty Salineville police officers for traffic control. He said in his experience they are better paid attention to by motorist. Of particular concern was the Rt. 39/164 intersection. They will be using three officers while working in that area.

A lengthy discussion was held on pay requests. Demuth said he was given approval to buy $211,000 of "stored material" and led to believe his company would be paid in short order to cover the cost. Since early February to date he has not received the first payment and it's putting Tucson in a precarious position. District Manager DeAngelis advised BWD is working on behalf of the Village of Salineville. BWD does not pay the bills on this project. Sara Crouch explained pay requests are sent to the engineers for verification and then forwarded on to the governing agency. RCAP's Joyce Gray advised pay requests are sent on almost immediately once received but cautioned that CDBG usually takes four to six weeks to process. Mayor Berta advised that as of Tuesday afternoon no money was deposited in the Salineville account. CDBG is funding the first $500,000 of the contract. Gray said she suspects CDBG will make the first payment at the end of the month. Demuth responded that they started in February and it is now nearly the end of April and they have no cash. Ryan remarked that BWD has had $40 to $50 million in previous projects and the contractors are always paid.

Next Progress meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, May 5 at 10 A.M. at the Water Treatment Plant.

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