New London Board of Public Works backs Oshkosh Street reconstruction plan, recommends contract award and assessment resolution

The New London Board of Public Works at its Feb. 3 meeting approved and adopted an engineer's report for the Oshkosh Street reconstruction and recommended that the City Council adopt a final assessment resolution to fund sanitary sewer and water lateral construction. The board also recommended awarding the construction contract to PTS Contractors Inc. for $4,201,299, authorized the Director of Public Works to approve change orders totaling up to $100,000, and recommended McMahon for construction-phase engineering services.

The engineer's report, presented by Director of Public Works Robert Garski, details project limits, estimated construction costs based on actual bids, and an assessment schedule for properties fronting both sides of Oshkosh Street from West Wolf River Avenue to Pershing Street. Garski said the report and final plans are on file at the clerk's office and the public works office and will be sent to affected property owners. "They will all be sent a copy of this," Garski said while reviewing assessment and notification procedures.

The nut graf: The board's actions move a multi-part street reconstruction toward council consideration and set the framework for how property owners will be assessed and may finance private lateral replacement. The work affects both the public right-of-way and private service laterals; financing, construction method choices, and property impacts are central to the project timeline and homeowner costs.

Key points from the engineer's presentation: - Project scope and limits: street reconstruction and sanitary sewer improvements for both sides of Oshkosh Street from West Wolf River Avenue to Pershing Street; corner lots that face Oshkosh or adjoin side streets in the project area are included. - Assessment method: costs to be assessed to benefited properties based on bid items, engineering fees and publication costs; the report uses conservative (higher) unit estimates to avoid under-assessing property owners. - Private lateral options and estimated unit costs (from bid documents): cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) lining, pipe bursting, and open trench/excavation. Garski read specific unit costs provided in the bid summary and noted that actual contractor pricing may vary by lot based on site conditions. - Payment options: assessments may be paid in cash or in up to 10 annual installments; deferred payments will bear interest (the report describes a 1% interest approach on unpaid balances and additional interest for late installments). - Property owner options: owners may choose a private contractor (option 1) with 60 days to complete the replacement after city notice, or use the city contract (option 2) and sign a waiver/consent form to have the private portion constructed under the city contract and placed on the assessment roll.

Board action and next steps: The board voted to approve and adopt the engineer's report and to recommend a council final assessment resolution. Garski said a public informational meeting for affected residents is scheduled for Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. at the Washington Center Senior Room; the public hearing on the assessment is scheduled for the City Council meeting on Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. The board recommended awarding the construction contract to PTS Contractors Inc. (low bidder at $4,201,299) and recommended McMahon for construction services (roughly 10% of the engineering portion). The board also authorized the Director of Public Works to approve change orders in a total collective amount up to $100,000 to avoid construction delays, with larger items to return to the board for approval.

Discussion highlights and clarifications: Garski emphasized that the assessment figures use the more expensive unit assumptions so the city will not need to re-assess if costs exceed estimates; he noted many private-lateral conditions will vary and the city will propose per-lot options after review. He also explained that the water utility work is included under the same contract for coordination and to avoid tearing up work twice; owners may finance both sewer and water assessments together if the council adopts the assessment program. A board member confirmed the board must take the lowest qualified bid for projects over $25,000 under state statute.

Ending: The board's recommendations now go to the City Council for final action. The public informational meeting is Feb. 13 (Washington Center Senior Room, 6:00 p.m.), and the public hearing on the assessment is scheduled for Feb. 19 (Council meeting, 6:30 p.m.).