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Board tables $150,000 transfer as engineers warn McDaniel Road repair could cost far more
Summary
The Woodstock Town Board tabled a proposed transfer of $150,000 from the highway repair reserve for initial engineering and bidding on McDaniel Road after the highway superintendent and consultants said the washout is complex and total repairs could far exceed the starting estimate.
Supervisor Bill McKenna called the meeting to order and the board quickly moved into a discussion of a proposed transfer of up to $150,000 from the highway repair reserve fund to the McDaniel Road capital account (H02401.105).
Highway Superintendent Donald Allen told trustees they are in an engineering study phase after a major washout was discovered on McDaniel Road and said specialists drilled test holes and provided multiple possible solutions. "I can tell you from my experience that it's going to be expensive," Allen said, warning that engineers do not yet have a single clear solution or final cost estimate.
Several trustees urged caution before moving the full $150,000 into the capital account. One member said the board should fund the next step toward a bid package instead of committing the full amount now and suggested getting three independent cost estimates to narrow the range. "If we're going to burn through $150,000, I'd like to know are we going to burn through $1.3 million or $500,000?" a trustee asked.
Allen and others explained that contractors typically will not bid without a complete bid package and that more engineering and specifications are needed before the town can solicit competitive construction bids. Board members discussed staging funds — several suggested $50,000–$100,000 to reach the bid-package stage — and emphasized that any large expenditure would require subsequent board approval.
After extended discussion the board voted to table the transfer motion so staff can obtain clearer estimates and prepare bid documents. The board did not approve the $150,000 transfer at the meeting; trustees said they expect to revisit the item after engineers produce a bid-ready package or clearer cost estimates.
What's next: The board asked staff to return with cost-to-bid-package estimates and options for staged funding; no contract awards or transfers were finalized at the meeting.
