City asks for funding to replace sewer system

KINGSTON, N.Y. >> City aldermen are being asked to approve an additional $275,000 in funding to cover cost overruns in the replacement of the Jacob’s Valley storm sewer system in Midtown.

During a meeting on Wednesday, the Common Council’s Finance and Audit Committee moved forward a resolution to increase the amount of money borrowed for the project from $3.35 million to $3.625, an increase of $275,000. The resolution must still be adopted by the full council, which meets again next month.

“Our contractor has, in the course of digging, found things to be not always where they were expected to be, especially existing water lines,” city Engineer John Schultheis told the committee. “That’s a big part of the change orders that we’ve incurred on this project.”

He said the $275,000 in additional borrowing would cover the change orders received and still provide some additional money in case other contingencies arise. There was a contingency account built into the project originally, but it was not large enough by itself, Schultheis said.

Schultheis said the biggest contributor to the increased cost of the project was the need to replace existing water lines and install a temporary water main. Some of the water mains in the project area are 80 to 100 years old, he said.

The good news, according to Schultheis, is the project is moving along quickly and should be completed in November. He said the project has passed the point where the contractor might encounter unknown issues that cost additional money.

The project has primarily taken place in the areas of South Sterling Street, Summer Street between South Sterling and Susan streets, Susan Street between Pine Grove Avenue and Summer Street, Pine Grove Avenue between Broadway and Mary’s Avenue, and the YMCA parking lot.

The work involves storm sewer pipeline replacement and lining of existing drainage pipes. It is expected to reduce the flooding on Broadway under the CSX overpass.