RH2 contract extension remains undecided

Today’s gathering of the Karcher Creek Sewer District Board of Commissioners and the Port Orchard City Council may end in the approval of an extension of RH2’s contract, allowing the engineering company to complete Phase II of the joint wastewater treatment facility expansion.

“Things are going well in the field,” said Paul Gilligan, regional manager of RH2 Engineering, the company currently working on the project.

Gilligan said he believes the board’s frequent meetings and today’s joint meeting with the council may have something to do with the renewal of the contract.

He said he brought the required extension renewal to the board this month. RH2 Engineering has been involved in the plant upgrade from the beginning, having designed the improved plant.

“We have a contract that doesn’t extend through the completion of the project,” Gilligan said.

On the recommendations of Dick Warren, an engineering consultant hired by Port Orchard Mayor Kim Abel, the council decided on Aug. 9 against the original contract prepared by former City Engineer Larry Curles in favor of a contract that will provide RH2 with an initial $400,000 to begin construction management.

When RH2 spent approximately $300,000, the contract would again be presented to the council for review.

The council would then decide whether or not to award additional funds, a process some councilmembers believed would rightfully keep expenditures in the hands of the city.

Jeff Laycock, an RH2 Engineer and inspector for Phase II of the treatment plant expansion, said significant progress has been made and structures will become visable throughout the year.

“The concrete started,” Laycock said. “That’s been the majority of the work that’s been going on now.”

According to Laycock, the base and the walls for the biosolids tank has been poured and the contractor has continued to work through the wind and rain.

“We have a good de-watering system,” Laycock said.

Laycock expects Phase two to be complete early in the summer of 2006.

“Coming into the summer, you’ll be able to see more of the structure,” Laycock said.

“A lot of the work is from the ground up,” Laycock said. “It’s exciting to watch everything come together.”

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