At the center of the debate was the proposed contract to Snow Country Contracting to install sewer laterals along Sunset Road.

Marv Winberg, P.E. for the Wilcox Engineering Company had recommended that just one bid for the proposed project be obtained and that the bid was from Snow Country.

Winberg stated that he proposed having Snow Country do the laterals as they install the water services. If the laterals are not done now and were done at a later time, they would have to be installed “under” the new water services.

Winberg cited several reasons why it was preferable to go with a single contractor; mainly he felt that having just one contractor “in the hole at one time” was a wise way to go, as any ensuing damage, if any, would not be subject to the blame game.

Winberg told the Trustees that the single bid option was acceptable to Rural Development, the government agency financing the projects.

Snow Country has been the contractor for the new GRWA project in the Township. Ruotsala Construction has been the contractor installing the new sewer project along Lake Road in the Township. The sewer project is and has been under the control of the Township.

Recently, a smaller sewer project was done at the intersection of Lake and Sunset and it was awarded to Snow Country, as their bid was approximately half that of the Ruotsala bid. That job was completed under Phase One.

The current situation relative to the laterals came about when a few of the aged sewer laterals on Sunset were broken when the water services were being installed. Those laterals were patched by the contractor. The thought is that since Sunset is still open and unpaved that it would be wise to complete everything now before paving.

At the meeting was Attorney Marvin Marks, representing Routsala Contruction, he asked several questions relative to the process used that gave Snow Country the contract for the laterals. Other members of the audience also chimed in on all sides of the question.

Marks told the Trustees that they would need answers when they stood before the Judge. He stated that he would seek a restraining order against the Township on the project.

The Trustees approved going forward with the project that would be funded through the remaining balance of the contingency fund. The vote was 4-2, with Fredrickson and Maki voting “no”.

Also appearing at last night’s meeting was Randy Scott from C2AE Engineering. He discussed Phase Two of the sewer project. That project calls for placing a new sewer line down Sunset Road. That project would cost a total $2.2 million and that would include refinancing $808,000 of current debt.

The refinancing of the $808,000 would save the Township $38,000 in interest charges per year for the life of the original financing, forty years. The new construction portion of the proposal would cost $ 1.4 million.

No action was needed on the proposal at this time.