Delays to raise cost of wastewater plant upgrades

The Village of Grafton’s $8.52 million upgrade project for the wastewater treatment facility will be completed two months later than expected due to challenges stemming from the coronavirus pandemic and engineering factors. 

The delay is expected to cost $65,451 in additional services, which will be split between the village and its contractor CD Smith, Public Works Director Amber Thomas said.

The Village Board on Tuesday, April 20, approved the extension.  

“The village believes that some of these justifications are valid while others are the contractor’s responsibility,” Thomas said. 

CD Smith said the delay is because of issues related to Covid-19, coordination with the railroad, winter weather, additional time needed for rock blasting and excavation and delays in obtaining rebar. 

Thomas said issues related to the railroad and Covid-19 are valid. Coordination between the contractor and railroad was difficult because train traffic had to be halted and a survey of the tracks had to be conducted for every detonation. 

Thomas said additional time and funds needed for rock blasting and excavating are not reasonable because changes in the subsurface conditions, which were described in project documents, were “misinterpreted or completely missed” during the bidding process by CD Smith or its blasting contractor, Falcon Drilling and Blasting.

“CD Smith expected rock blasting and excavation to take 20 days. However, it took 57 days to complete,” Thomas said. 

She added that the rebar delay is not the village’s issue even though CD Smith’s rebar supplier declared bankruptcy. 

“The (village) should not be responsible for these delays as hiring and coordinating work by a subcontractor is fully the prime contractor’s choice and responsibility,” Thomas said.

“CD Smith did try in earnest to remedy the situation with outside vendors but was unsuccessful.”

Thomas said the coronavirus pandemic and cold weather were out of CD Smith’s control. 

Thomas said the project, which began  June 6, is about 70% complete and is expected to be finished by July 15. Any additional costs that incur if the project goes beyond the extension will be paid for by CD Smith.

The current wastewater plant at 1900 Ninth Ave. is about 40 years old and no longer efficient, officials said. Typically, water-treatment facilities have a 20-year lifespan.

In addition to the new building, the project includes updates to screening equipment and electrical and generator upgrades.