Council OK's extra pay for sewer plant

The Cathlamet Town Council on Monday approved a request for an extra $66,634 payment to the engineering firm guiding the construction of the town's new wastewater treatement plant.

Engineer Ken Alexander of Gray and Osborne Engineering made the request to the town council at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.

Alexander explained that unavoidable delays had held up the contractor, Pacific Crest Construction, and so extra time will be needed for inspection and related services as the contractor wraps up the project.

Also, the town had added a new project to the scope of work, the closing of the old sewer lagoons, and that work wasn't included in the original compensation agreement with the town.

"We recognize this is a tremendous burden on the town, but it is only fair," Alexander said. He added that the firm would absorb other costs, and that the contractor had been able to cut costs, leaving funds that the town could use to pay the costs of the extension.

Most council members were sympathetic to the request.

"I've read that Gray and Osborne didn't charge driving time and so on," said Council Member Bob Rendler. "The wetlands mitigation process took a huge amount of time, and they didn't ask for more money for that. The biosolids permit (for the sewer lagoon) was much more complicated than we expected."

"Everyone is going as fast and as safely as they can," commented Public Works Director Duncan Cruickshank. "This is as good as it can get."

"I'm convinced your staff has done a good job," Council Member Dick Swart told Alexander.

"I'll vote no on principle," said Council Member Wally Wright. He explained that he wanted other contractors to know that not all council members will vote for extra expenses.

Cruickshank and Alexander said the new plant is starting to handle sewage. The plant will be evaluated and fully come on line in December.