Utilities committee advances three water‑line contracts for directional drilling and hydrant upgrades totaling about $1.13 million

At its April 28 City Utilities committee hearing, council members advanced requests from the utilities director for three separate contract authorizations with Simonson Construction Services Inc. for replacement and upsizing of water mains on several streets.

Committee chair Jennifer Baker read letters from Utilities Director Dennis Weaver requesting authorization for contracts with Simonson. Todd (city utilities staff) described the work: the contractor will use directional drilling (HDD) to reduce surface disturbance, pull new mains into place and then connect services and fire hydrants. The upgrades will increase capacity (examples cited: 4‑inch lines upgraded to 8‑inch; 6‑inch lines upgraded to 8‑inch in certain locations) and will add hydrants to meet modern spacing (roughly every 300 feet as the standard cited by staff).

Specific requests discussed in committee and moved to call for legislation were: - Contract request for Simonson Construction Services Inc., amount $311,095 (Fifth Street project); emergency wording requested. - Contract request for Simonson Construction Services Inc., amount $264,206 (Frank Street project); emergency wording requested. - Contract request for Simonson Construction Services Inc., amount $553,709.50 (Wisteria and loop/storm improvements); emergency wording requested.

Todd told the committee that Simonson submitted bids well under the engineer estimates for the projects. Examples discussed in committee: an engineer estimate of about $395,000 for the Fifth Street package vs. the $311,095 bid; and an earlier estimated $1.1 million for Wisteria in the engineer estimate that came in as $553,709.50 on bid. Staff said the directional‑drill alternate is substantially less expensive than open‑cut trenching because open‑cut requires far more excavation and restoration.

Committee members pressed staff on details including: whether the same directional‑drilling approach would work across sites; the soil borings and rock risk; whether contingency (staff cited typical contingencies) was included in the budgets; whether the contracts were lump sum or had line items and allowances; and whether driveway and storm‑sewer issues should be addressed when the streets are opened. Staff said the contracts include line items and allowances and that contingencies are typically included in project budgets. A 15% contingency was discussed as a typical planning number.

Why it matters: the projects replace deep, failure‑prone mains (staff described some mains at 9 feet depth in sandy soils that are costly to repair) with shallower lines (approximately 5 feet) that should be easier to maintain. The mains upgrades also improve fire protection by adding hydrants and increasing pipe capacity.

Next steps: the committee voted to call the legislation to full council (motions recorded in committee minutes). Council committees recommended emergency wording for expedited consideration; final contract authorization requires formal ordinance or authorizing legislation at the legislative meeting or the next council session.

Ending: Staff said they will follow up with specific bid documents, contingency details and schedules and will confirm any remaining items (rock risk, warranty, and exact funding splits) when the matter is brought to the full council for final authorization.