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Council delays vote on $1.6M-a-year construction management contract for Hilo wastewater upgrade
Summary
Council postponed action on Resolution 461-26, which would authorize multiyear payments for a construction management services contract for the Hilo wastewater upgrade, after members pressed the department for a detailed budget breakdown and clearer authorization language; the measure was postponed to March 18.
The Hawaii County Council on March 4 postponed Resolution 461-26, which would authorize the county to enter a multiyear construction‑management services agreement related to the Hilo wastewater treatment plant upgrade. The motion to postpone passed with an 8‑0 recorded vote and one excused member.
County officials told the council the contract would fund a 4.1‑person construction management team — one director (0.1 FTE) and four full‑time staff — to provide on‑site inspection, engineering oversight and administrative coordination. The resolution estimates the annual cost at $1,600,000; staff explained that figure includes a fixed base amount plus an $80,000 annual allowance for specialized inspections. The director described why an independent construction manager is needed: "If we don't have a construction manager on-site, the contractor is just going to throw a lot of dirt in the hole and maybe compact the top of it," he said, emphasizing the team's role in verifying compaction, formwork and equipment inspection.
Multiple councilmembers pressed for specifics. Questions focused on whether the $1.6 million is a guaranteed annual amount or an up‑to cap, how the per‑person rates break down, what credentials the proposed staff carry, whether the contract duplicates contractor responsibilities, and how change orders and contingencies would be handled for the overall $337 million construction program. The department said the funding source is the same bond package backing the construction project and the amount was included in bond planning, but that the contract itself would be separate.
Councilmembers said the packet did not include the detailed budget breakdown they needed to authorize the commitment and that, from a transparency standpoint, the council should receive the financial detail even if some elements were draft. The council asked that staff provide the breakdown and that the resolution be rewritten to make clear it authorizes "up to $1,600,000" per year. With that information outstanding, the council voted to postpone consideration to its March 18 meeting.
Next steps: the department will provide a full budget breakdown, documentation of staff credentials and any proposed contract draft to the council in advance of the March 18 hearing. The council also signaled it may amend the resolution language to clarify the scope of authorization.
