Crown Point approves SRF payouts, awards lead-line bid and advances downtown interceptor work

The Crown Point City Board of Works on May 7 approved several State Revolving Fund (SRF) disbursements and moved forward on multiple water and wastewater projects, including a recommended award for lead service-line replacement and partial payouts tied to the recently completed wastewater contract.

City staff said the SRF approvals included disbursement number 41 for $8,300 and disbursement number 42 to release contractor retainage of $32,748; the board approved both motions. "Our phase 4 project, we finally received SRF approval on the, additional work items," Al, a city staff member, told the board when requesting the approvals.

Why it matters: The approved disbursements and signatures let the city draw on subsidized financing for several capital projects and allow contractors to be paid as work progresses, advancing replacements of aging water infrastructure and downtown sewer work.

The board authorized the mayor to sign a preliminary engineering report acceptance form for a new 24-inch water supply line to the treatment facility so the city can file for SRF financing for that project. City staff also brought a separate PER acceptance form for the next round of lead service-line replacement funding and the board granted the mayor authority to sign that, too.

On the lead service-line program, staff recommended awarding the first package to Gatlin Plumbing as the apparent low bidder at $3,347,000, "pending legal review and approval," Al said. The board approved a motion to accept the bid and award amount pending legal review. Staff noted the city had secured $5,000,000 in subsidized financing to cover construction and nonconstruction costs for the lead service-line work.

Wastewater work: The board approved two contractor payments tied to the recently substantially completed wastewater improvements contract. Partial payment application number 21 — described by staff as delayed contractual work totaling $327,778.50 with a corresponding 5% retainage of $17,251.50 — was approved. Separately the board approved payout number 22, a release from the project retainage account in the amount of $559,000; staff said that would leave $608,684.70 remaining in the retainage account.

The downtown interceptor project remains in the recommendation stage. Staff reported the apparent low bidder is Atlas Excavating and said the recommended awards came in roughly $3 million below budget, pending a meeting with the mayor and staff to confirm expectations. Staff noted two potential deductive bid items under discussion: elimination of surface restoration at one intersection if a planned roundabout is constructed, and whether to allow a two-crew operation (which carries tradeoffs in inspection staffing and savings).

On the Southeast Wastewater Treatment Plant design, staff reported the preliminary design and engineer’s opinion of probable construction cost were complete and over budget; they are developing alternatives to reduce cost without impairing treatment capability and will return to staff for a decision on scope before final design and permitting.

Discussion vs. decisions: The board’s actions included formal approvals (SRF disbursements, mayoral signature authority on PERs, acceptance of the Gatlin Plumbing bid pending legal review, and partial payments/retainage release). The downtown interceptor and Southeast WWTP items were informational and remain under staff review for final award or scope adjustments.

Next steps: Staff will complete legal review for the lead-line award, schedule closings for SRF loans (staff estimated closings in the next month or two), and return with updates on property acquisitions for collection-system work and design-cost alternatives for the Southeast WWTP.

Ending: The board recorded the approvals by voice vote; staff said the SRF funding and the contractor payments position Crown Point to proceed with construction phases as financing and legal steps are finalized.