One project that is now playing catch up is extending sewer services to Wild Rose Jefferson.

Jefferson City Engineer John Milligan says Scharnweber Water Conditioning Incorporated from Toledo, Ohio didn’t make their deadline of June 15th to install a new lift station and the eight-inch sewer pipe to handle the added capacity of the entertainment complex at the northwest intersection of US Highway 30 and Iowa Highway 4.

Rain is mostly to blame for the delay.  Scharnweber’s bid was for $697,789 to extend sewer services to Wild Rose Jefferson and utilities to some lots along Gallup Road.  The bid was approved by the City Council on February 24th.

Construction didn’t actually start until early April, due to the weather.  Milligan explains that the contractor is running into issues with the types of soils.  There is sugar sand on top of clay and when water runs into it, it’s like a bathtub and collects all the moisture.  So Scharnweber has had to wait for the soil to dry out.  Milligan notes that Scharweber hired two additional companies to help with the project.  

City Administrator Mike Palmer says lift stations are a way for water and sewer to help carry those discharges to the wastewater treatment plant.  He notes that the contract does allow for fines to be issued, since the contractor went passed the deadline.

“They get some latitude on weather-related days, that’s something our engineers sort out.  At the end, if there actually some liquidated damages we call it, they’re owed the City on a default of contract.  (We) want to get this thing done and get it online.”

Milligan adds that he has assured Wild Rose Jefferson officials that they have alternatives to provide sewer services by the time they want to open their facility, which could be earlier than the anticipated August 1st date.