Germantown committee awards High Point Pass construction and inspection contracts, approves 10% contingency

The Germantown Public Works and Highway Committee on Wednesday approved a construction contract for the High Point Pass road project and a separate inspection services agreement, with both votes unanimous.

The approvals fund a two‑lane divided roadway with a median and a cul‑de‑sac at the railroad, plus a sanitary sewer alignment through the MLG parcel and a water main to serve the Truck Country development and Holy Hill Storage. Matt, public works staff, said completing the work on schedule fulfills obligations under two agreements with the Truck Country development and with MLG.

The low construction bid listed in the bid tabulation was $2,178,000; staff requested award of the low bid with a 10% contingency that brings the authorized total to $2,396,440. Matt said two contractors submitted bids and both were substantially under the original construction estimate of about $2.9 million. “We did only have 2 participating, but both of the bids were substantially under what the construction estimate was,” Matt said.

Committee members questioned a discrepancy between the RA Smith estimate in the packet and the contract recommendation. Matt explained the packet letter had included an alternate that used directional drilling for part of the sanitary sewer; staff selected the open‑trench approach and deducted the boring cost, producing the lower construction total. Kevin Driscoll, village engineer, confirmed that contract language marked in red reflects edits made in coordination with the village attorney.

Separately, the committee approved a professional services agreement with RA Smith for construction inspection services on High Point Pass, not to exceed $173,970. Matt said that figure is a not‑to‑exceed amount based on estimated hours and could be lower if actual hours come in under estimate.

Trustees clarified the roadway design includes two lanes in each direction with a median that gaps for site access, and that the end of the road at the railroad is currently designed as a cul‑de‑sac that may be extended in the future if the village of Richfield acquires right of way south of the railroad. The sanitary sewer alignment runs along the east side of the MLG property before turning west to connect at Holy Hill Road, Matt said.

The committee voted unanimously to award the construction contract and the RA Smith inspection agreement. No committee member recorded a dissenting vote.