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Pepperwood problems frustrate city officials
(by Sue Reid - December 15, 2010)
Pepperwood problems frustrate city officials
By SUE REID
Not only has Fetchko Excavating Inc., the contractor on the Pepperwood storm-sewer-replacement project, officially been put on notice that the City of Solon is rejecting the pavement on Pepper Drive. But the street itself has not been built to the dimensions of the plan, Dan Driscoll, construction project administrator, said last week.
"The width of the road varies the way they poured it," Mr. Driscoll said. "It is their job to build it to lines and grades of the plan, and they failed to do that," he said.
"We built other concrete pavements in the city this year to these exact same specs, and we've always been successful," Mr. Driscoll said. "Something went wrong on this job with the application of concrete. I've never seen this problem before.
"I feel comfortable leaving it the way it is over the winter, and there are no hazards associated with it being built improperly," he said.
The city also has put the contractor on official notice regarding the pavement, he said.
Mr. Driscoll said the city engineer has the authority to accept the project the contractor has built. He said that he and city Engineer John J. Busch are "more than dissatisfied with the pavement."
He said the testing lab, where the concrete samples were sent recently, observed problems. "That gave us every reason to believe that the surface problems are such that will continue and get worse," Mr. Driscoll said.
He said the contractor has not been paid for most of the pavement. "We're withholding payment," he said.
Mr. Driscoll told City Council's public works committee last week that the city also is keeping track of expenses associated with the project, including the testing-lab work.
Councilman Robert N. Pelunis said he wants to make sure the city is reimbursed for what it pays for. "I want to make sure we get all our expenses paid." He asked Mr. Driscoll to keep a list of all of the expenses.
Mr. Driscoll told the committee that residents have been contacted regarding the delay. If any have unreasonable situations that have resulted from the delay, they need to contact the city. An example would be a hole next to their driveway, he said. He also has asked residents that if they have dog fences that were broken during construction that need to be repaired, to let the city know.
"We will get something done so they can let their dogs out over the winter," Mr. Driscoll said. "Residents don't have to live with something unreasonable."
The project began in May. The contractor had a completion date set for phase one of Oct. 29. That deadline still has not been met.
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