Crown Point advances water and wastewater projects as downtown interceptor bids come in under budget

Crown Point City officials on April 16 updated the Board of Public Works on a package of water and wastewater projects and approved related contract actions and budget reallocations.

Public works staff reported that design and funding steps are continuing for a new 24‑inch water supply line and that a public meeting and preliminary engineering report for that project and the next round of lead service line replacements are set for April 21 at 9 a.m. The city’s current lead service line replacement work was bid on March 31; Gatlin Plumbing was the low bidder at about $3,347,000, below the engineer’s estimate of $3,526,070, and staff said the project will proceed with replacements “until we run out of funds.”

The board heard that the wastewater treatment plant project is “substantially complete.” The city has assembled a certificate of substantial completion and a punch list of startup‑related items; the certificate attached a 5% retainage that will be released as the contractor completes the outstanding items. The board voted to authorize the mayor to sign the certificate of substantial completion and retain the 5% retainage pending punch‑list completion.

The meeting also covered the downtown interceptor project. Bids opened earlier in the week and produced four responsive offers; staff reported the apparent low bid in the “low fifties” million dollars compared with an August engineer’s estimate of $58,000,000 and a budget that included a 5% contingency (about $62,000,000). Staff said the apparent low came in “about $10,000,000 under budget.” The city will review bid responsiveness, check references, then meet with the mayor’s office and public works and the selected contractor to align expectations before making a formal award recommendation and scheduling bond closing.

Because some contractors said completing the interceptor with a single crew could exceed the two‑year construction window, staff added a mandatory alternate in the bid allowing two mobilization start points; the apparent low bidder offered a $3,000,000 deduct if allowed to use two crews. Staff said the city may consider authorizing two crews to capture potential cost savings and meet the schedule.

The board approved two task orders tied to the utilities projects. Task Order 2025‑01 is a reallocation of existing Commonwealth engineering hours to cover remaining hourly line items (net contract change $0) and moves roughly $120,000 among categories to close out phase 1 work; the board approved that reallocation. Task Order 2025‑02, in the amount of $4,110,000, funds bidding, construction engineering, inspection and startup services for the interceptor; the board approved that task order as presented. Staff told the board these engineering hours and task orders are included in the borrowing plan and rates used to support the SRF loan closing.

Staff also presented an invoice (draw) from Commonwealth for $60,184.17 and asked the board to authorize the mayor to sign the payment draw; the board approved the draw.

On schedule, staff said they expect to close on financing in June or July, that contractors will perform subsurface utility exploration (90 days), and that breaking ground is likely in October or November; staff estimated individual construction durations (for lead replacements) at about six months, with larger projects spanning the next two years.

Speakers who addressed the utilities items included Mayor Land; board members Betsy Barnes, Bob Clemens, Jim Crook and Billy Gomez (roll call); and Al (public works staff), who presented the utility updates.