Grand Forks City Council considers approving amendment compensating KLJ Engineering for contractor delays
Jul. 12—GRAND FORKS — An amendment with KLJ Engineering for construction administrative engineering services in the amount of $52,454 was discussed by City Council members during Monday's Committee of the Whole meeting.
The administrative engineering services done by KLJ was for the reconstruction of North Columbia Road, completed last year. A construction engineering agreement was executed with KLJ in May of 2021, but contractor delays resulted in time extension negotiations and prolonged inspections.
The proposed amendment will compensate KLJ for services beyond the initial scope of the project, with a portion of the amendment covering additional time that KLJ has spent on the project due to contractor delays.
The reconstruction project has been discussed at many previous council meetings all the way back to 2016, when the council approved a federal transportation request including the project, but funds weren't awarded. In 2018, the council approved a federal transportation request including the project once again, with funding ultimately being awarded then. The council approved an agreement with KLJ for preliminary engineering services in the amount of $266,409 and any necessary budget amendments in 2019.
The project included the reconstruction of North Columbia Road from the overpass to just north of University Avenue and entailed a new pavement section, sidewalks/bikepaths, traffic signals, street lights, upgrading the pedestrian underpass, replacing a section of sanitary sewer forcemain and other miscellaneous work.
In other council news Monday:
* The council considered approving a noise variance and proposed operations for the Downtown Development Association's Downtown Street Fair, to be held Aug. 19 -20. The event will be 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both days. Vendors will include Bonzer's Sandwich Pub, Half Brothers, Joe Black's/Red Pine Distillery and Rhombus Guys Brewing. The DDA and vendors are requesting a noise variance, co-mingling and proposed layout for the Downtown Street Fair to be held on city streets. Any guests purchasing alcohol will be required to have a wristband. DDA will be providing additional volunteers.
* The council received an update on the proposed
Lead Service Line Replacement Program
. In April, the council approved filling an application with the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality for a loan under the Clean Water Act. The city requested $375,000 from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and received approval, with $337,500 being loan forgiveness. The program will cover 90% of the replacement costs for lead service lines for homeowners who haven't already replaced their lead service lines. The city has been working with the city of Bismarck, which offers a rebate for residents that work with a local pre-approved contractor to replace the lead service line to their home. The program in Grand Forks would be structured similarly and is set to begin later this year.
