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Council delays vote on $43 million Mill Creek interceptor CMAR as cost, deadline questions linger
Summary
Youngstown City Council moved ORD-25-257 (construction manager at risk for the Mill Creek interceptor sewer) to a third reading after members pressed staff about cost estimates ($28–$43 million), one bidder’s $34 million bond ceiling and deadlines tied to a federal consent decree and HUD funding requirements.
Youngstown City Council on Aug. 1, 2025 moved ORD-25-257 to a third reading after a session of questions about procurement, price uncertainty and court-ordered deadlines.
Councilman Mike Ray and Councilwoman Samantha Turner asked staff to explain the wide range of cost estimates tied to the planned Mill Creek Park interceptor sewer project. Mr. D'Apolito said the ordinance stems from a federal consent decree intended to ensure clean drinking water for Youngstown residents and that the city’s current allocation for the construction manager-at-risk process is $43 million. “The contract price will likely be between $28 million dollars and $43 million dollars,” Mr. D'Apolito said. He added that one contractor who responded to the request for qualifications has a bond ceiling of $34 million and warned that failure to meet court-ordered deadlines “the city will be in contempt of court and the court could impose fines and penalties.”
City staff and consultants described the procurement approach as a construction manager-at-risk (CMAR) process rather than a traditional design-bid-build. Mr. Small said the $43 million figure is an allocation, not a final contract amount: “The $43 million is simply an allocation we (city) don't know what the final price is, nobody does outside of the process.” Council members were told there are currently no final bids; the CMAR process will produce more detailed designs and a guaranteed maximum price for phased work later in the procurement.
Councilwoman Turner pressed whether lower figures cited earlier (a $30 million estimate) represented realistic bids; staff replied there were no binding bids at this time and that initial proposal prices reflected different scopes and assumptions. Mr. D'Apolito said Mosure & Sarakus prepared the range reflected in the legislation.
On a procedural motion by Councilman Mike Ray, council did not adopt ORD-25-257 at the meeting but moved it to a third reading so members can receive additional detail in advance of a final vote. Council members were advised that, if approved in future readings, the measure will be taken up by the Board of Control as part of the city’s procurement process.
Why it matters: The Mill Creek interceptor is tied to a federal consent decree and state/federal funding timelines; cost uncertainty and contractor bonding limits could affect schedule, financing and whether the city meets court-ordered deadlines. The council’s decision to delay a final vote makes additional staff briefing and documentation likely before the ordinance returns for consideration.
