Milford City Council on Sept. 8 authorized payment of up to $95,061 to Chesapeake Utilities to relocate a remaining segment of a 6-inch natural gas main along Route 14 to allow construction of designed stormwater infrastructure for the Milford Corporate Center.

City Planning Director Rob Pierce told the council the relocation would cover about 1,700 feet of gas main and is required so the stormwater pipes can be installed as designed. Pierce said the cost was not anticipated in the current project budget and that earlier relocations already cost “a little over $130,000.”

The amount will be paid from the city’s Realty Transfer Tax reserves, Pierce said. “The budget between these two changes, which equate to about $220,000, is equivalent to about $1,500 an acre in terms of asking price,” he said, adding the city remained “in a good position” compared with Emery Hill’s projected market value for the lots.

Councilmember Daniel Marabella moved the authorization; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The record does not show a roll-call tally; the mayor declared the motion passed.

The relocation follows review work by Becker Morgan Group and KCI Technologies and additional invoicing from Chesapeake Utilities, Pierce said. He also told council there is only a small contingency associated with the awarded construction contract, so staff brought the request back to council rather than using an existing contingency.

Council discussion noted the size of the unplanned cost and the lack of a project-level contingency specifically for the Chesapeake work. Pierce said staff will return with refined off-site improvement costs once designs are complete and bids received.

The authorization allows the gas main relocation work to proceed so developers can construct the stormwater system as planned for the Milford Corporate Center project.