Council postpones vote on $1.6M/year construction-management contract for Hilo wastewater upgrade

The Hawaii County Council on March 4 voted to postpone consideration of Resolution 4 61-26, which would authorize a six-year agreement to hire professional construction-management services for the Hilo wastewater treatment plant upgrade at an estimated $1,600,000 per year.

Department officials explained the role of the construction-management team: an on-site project manager, project engineer, inspector and administrative support—together a 4.1-person team—to verify compaction and foundations, inspect delivered machinery, validate value-engineering proposals and prepare documentation needed for county payments. The department said specialized inspections could require an $80,000 annual allowance for ad hoc experts.

Council members pressed for more details on how the $1.6 million figure is broken down, whether the funding had been included in the overall project bond package, and the credentials of proposed staff. The department said the funding would come from the same bond package that supports the larger construction budget and that the $1.6 million figure is a rounded estimate that includes the $80,000 allowance; staff also said the proposed key personnel hold professional engineering credentials.

Several council members asked that the department provide a confidential budget breakdown prior to final action. Councilmember Connolly Kleinfelder said, “Public funds are public funds,” and asked for the detailed financials to be provided to the council in advance; the director agreed to provide the breakdown. Vice Chair Onishi moved to postpone the resolution to the March 18 council meeting; the motion carried 8 ayes, 1 excused.

The postponement requires department staff to return with an itemized budget for the $1.6 million estimate and other procurement details before the council will consider awarding the professional-services contract.