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Council rejects time-only extension for Bill Road project as DEQ permits remain pending
Summary
Council declined a time-only extension for the Neil Schafer Bill Road contract after staff said the project awaits MDEQ (401) and Corps (404) permit actions; the extension vote tied 3–3 and failed, leaving the contract to expire at month-end unless refiled.
Council members on Dec. 16 voted down a time-only extension for an engineering contract tied to the Bill Road project after hearing staff say regulators — not the contractor — had delayed permitting.
Project representatives said the contract extension would preserve the firm's ability to continue if state and Corps permits (MDEQ 401 and Corps 404) are granted and to avoid reissuing a new RFQ. "We are waiting on the 404 permit and the 401 permit," the project representative said. He added the City will send public‑comment scheduling information once MDEQ completes its review.
Councilmember Hines opposed extending the contract while neighborhoods near the planned levee project remain vulnerable to flooding. Hines described local residents' concerns about standing water on Bill Road and said she could not support an extension without clearer schedule assurances and mitigation for at‑risk families.
After a recorded count in chambers, the motion to extend the Neil Schafer contract resulted in a 3–3 tie and the president announced the extension would not be granted. Staff clarified the extension requested time only, not additional funds.
