Hazen engineer flags sewer defects in Expedition Estates; commission approves $196,365 payment to contractor

Derek from engineering updated the Hazen City Commission on two capital projects and recommended steps if the city must take over incomplete work.

Derek said Expedition Estates is a privately built subdivision under city oversight with a handful of outstanding corrective items — notably about a block‑and‑a‑half of sanitary sewer that needs excavation and repair because of cracked saddles and poor original compaction. "The saddles or the sewer wires are all cracked and broken ... in order to get to the sewer, you gotta dig up the street and it's expensive," Derek (Speaker 5) said, explaining why the city has delayed issuance of building permits until corrections are made.

He also reported on the city's sanitary sewer spot‑repair and manhole work. Staff told the commission trenchless manhole repairs are about 50% complete and are expected to be finished by October 31, with final asphalt rehabilitation scheduled next season when soils are drier.

On contract payments, Derek presented Contractor Application for Payment No. 5 from CC Steel for $196,365.38 and recommended approval, noting retainage rules and quality checks. A motion to approve the payment was moved and seconded; the roll-call vote recorded Paul Kurtz, Stern, Pat, Weidrick and Chip Rowe voting "Aye." The motion passed.

What happens next: staff will continue inspections and, if private parties do not address outstanding work at Expedition Estates, Derek recommended a November decision point about whether to initiate public take‑over, design an improvement project and advertise bids for completion next construction season.