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Middletown staff warn Westlake dam is failing; council briefed on emergency design phase
Summary
Acting city staff told the Common Council that a Laredo Engineering Associates assessment found the Westlake dam 'significantly deteriorated' and 'will inevitably fail'; staff requested authorization for a design and survey phase so the city can pursue state (DEEP) funding and later competitively bid repairs.
Acting city staff told the Common Council on April 6 that a professional assessment concluded the Westlake dam is significantly deteriorated and requires immediate engineering work to prevent failure.
An acting director summarized the Laredo Engineering Associates report, saying the assessment showed portions of the dam have already broken and "the dam will inevitably fail" if not addressed. The city requested authorization to proceed with a design/assessment phase that includes land surveying, a conceptual repair design, a construction plan and a cost estimate so the city can pursue state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) funding and plan competitive bidding for construction.
The acting director said Laredo performed the initial assessment under a pre-existing agreement and staff prefers to keep the same engineer for continuity in the design phase, though actual construction would be bid competitively. He said some local match funds may be required but that the amount will be clearer after the design-phase deliverables are completed.
Councilwoman Blackwell noted that staff followed the city’s emergency-purchase rules (Purchasing Ordinance 78-14) for this phase. No construction contract award was made at the workshop; the request was for design and surveying work to advance into a formal construction procurement process.
