Project manager: City, Rural Water agreement needed

Talk about it

The Titan Machinery construction project’s manager expressed dismay with the controversy over who will supply water to the location during the Jamestown City Council regular meeting Monday.

“There has been no activity (on the construction project) for two weeks because we don’t know who our water and sewer provider will be,” said Rob Thompson, president of C.I. Construction

The Titan Machinery location has been at the center of a dispute between Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water District over which would provide water service to the area.

“We will take action when there is something to take action on,” said Mayor Katie Andersen, in response to Thompson’s request for the status of the negotiations.

Andersen said she was also exasperated by the lack of progress in the negotiations.

“I won’t hold my breath,” Thompson said in reply.

Thompson also asked for a “drop dead” date when the negotiations would have to be complete. The City Council could not provide a deadline.

“I want to go on the public record that Titan needs a resolution,” he said, addressing the City Council.

Thompson said in an interview after the meeting that he doesn’t care which entity provides water to the project.

“The average water bill at the current Titan facility is $150 per month,” he said. “We’re stuck in the middle with no preference for either. We could live with either but we need a solution.”

In other business, the City Council authorized advertising for bids for sewer lines to serve the new Titan Machinery location. The bid specifications include options the city can exercise to add water lines to the project if the city becomes the service provider to the area.

The bid estimates for the project’s sewer portion are about $560,000 with the additional water options totaling $650,000. The bids will be opened Feb. 27 with project completion required by April 15.

Steve Aldinger, project manager for Interstate Engineering, said the aggressive schedule of the project may cause the bids to be higher than anticipated.

The City Council also authorized advertising for bids for the new water tower planned for the area directly east of Infinity Builders. The project carries a $2.3 million estimate. The plans call for substantial completion of the tower by Nov. 30 with painting completed by July 15, 2014.

Substantial completion means the tower would be complete and usable with the exception of painting or any landscaping or ground work that could not be completed by the November deadline.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, water