Council awards East Ninth Street rock‑drill contract to McCallum Rock Drilling

The council authorized a contract not to exceed $192,710 with McCallum Rock Drilling to pre‑drill rock for sanitary sewer and storm-water trenching on East Ninth Street, a project staff said is intended to reduce vibration impacts on a nearby historic stone residence.

Dale McCabe, the city’s new public-works director, told the council the work will pre‑drill three‑inch holes in a 12‑inch pattern for the length of the trenches so construction crews can use smaller equipment and reduce repetitive heavy‑hammering. "We're feeling that this is gonna help mitigate that," McCabe said, describing the intent to protect an adjacent historic rock house.

The low responsive bid was $192,710; staff reported sufficient funds remain in the wastewater collection fund following a supplemental budget allocation earlier in January. McCabe said the fund has approximately $629,929 available across the listed line items for the project.

Councilor Bridal moved to award the contract; Councilor Runyon seconded. The council voted in favor and the mayor declared the motion carried.

Staff said the contract is expected to reduce construction time and the risk of damage to nearby structures where the project encounters hard basalt. McCabe and other staff said the trench would still require rock removal but that pre‑drilling would limit the need for continuous heavy-pound hammers and would expedite the work.

The contract award is listed as contract number 2025001 in the staff packet.

No revised funding authorization was requested; staff said available balance in the identified wastewater collection accounts is sufficient to cover the contract and that standard construction oversight and inspections will apply.