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Greendale staff say contractor errors damaged multiple utilities on US‑50 stormwater project
Summary
City staff told the Greendale Redevelopment Commission that construction work on the US‑50 stormwater project damaged gas, water, fiber and sewer lines, and that the city will negotiate final payment and possible liquidated‑damage deductions from contractor Smith Corp.
City staff told the Greendale Redevelopment Commission on Tuesday that crews working on a stormwater improvement at the US‑50/Southeast facility damaged multiple utilities and that the city will seek to recoup costs from the contractor.
The presentation described repeated incidents during the work: a fiber line that initially was not marked, followed by cuts to water and sewer lines, bent gas lines and a near miss with an electric pole. Staff said the contractor’s foreman moved a main in front of a utility pole, which exposed and led to striking other buried lines.
“Almost knocked down electric pole,” a staff speaker said, describing the series of damages, and added that a fiber line struck in the project was identified as a national‑security line. Staff said Nathaniel and Sean from city operations have spent significant time on the site to manage the problems.
Staff said the Board of Works previously approved the work being charged and that the city will not pay more than the awarded bid. The final pay application will be subject to negotiation; staff expects change orders and possible liquidated‑damage deductions and said the utility and public‑works departments can also seek to recover costs for their time fixing damage.
“The final pay app…there’s going to need to be a discussion between myself, Rizzo, and them on what their last bill is versus what we’re going to pay,” staff said, summarizing the next step.
Board members pressed staff on whether utilities had been properly marked before the hit. Staff said most utilities were marked “to a T,” but that one fiber line had not been marked before it was hit; on another line that was marked, crews still struck the sewer after exposing it.
The commission did not take additional formal action beyond approving the claims; staff indicated they will resolve outstanding change orders and finalize the contractor’s payment through internal review and negotiation.
What happens next: staff will reconcile the contractor’s final bill against change orders and documented damages and report back to the board; the city may withhold payment or assess liquidated damages if negotiations justify it.
