By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Nephi is even closer to beginning an extensive culinary water improvement project to add needed capacity to the system. “Now that the city has accepted the water project bid from Johansen Construction Inc. (JCI), the contract for the project is ready for approval by the council,” said Seth Atkinson, city administrator. “Once the contract is approved, it will go to USDA representatives for review and then the Notice to Proceed can be issued.” Afterward, the project will begin in earnest. Johansen Construction Inc. bid the culinary water system improvement project at $14,794,295. Bids were opened on July 17. The contract has been reviewed by Sunrise Engineering, Kyle Marchant, Nephi Public Works Director and Kasey Wright, Nephi City Attorney. The contract is standard and is similar to the contract for the well rehabilitation project. Steve Johansen, president, Mt. Pleasant, is ready to begin the work, said Atkinson. “The project has been designed by Sunrise Engineering, Inc. and the city has retained Sunrise to act as their representative,” said Atkinson. The work is to be substantially completed within 500 calendar days after the date when the contract time commences to run. Today (Wednesday, the date of council meeting) is September 5, 2018 so that means that 500 days from today would be January 18, 2020. Of course, the date will run from the date the final review has been competed by Rural Development. It is recognized that time is of the essence in finishing the project on time and the contractor will pay the city $1,250 per day that expires after the time for substantial completion. According to terms of the contract, the city will make progress payments on account of the contract price on the basis of the contractor’s applications for payment on or about the tenth day of each month during performance of the work. Upon substantial completion of the entire construction project, the city will pay an amount sufficient to increase the total payments to 100 percent of the work completed. Kent Jones, council member, questioned the look of the document to be approved. There were sections that had been lined through and other areas where words had been added in bold. John Iverson, representing Sunrise Engineering, said that the document was federal government boiler plate. “The government does not allow changes unless those changes are lined out and they require that additions be in bold,” said Iverson. “It is the final document and is ready for your approval and the mayor’s signature.” Following the approving vote by the council, a small break was taken by the council so that the mayor could sign the necessary documents since Iverson said that he could have the paperwork to Rural Development by the next day and could then, most likely, get an order to proceed by Monday. Most of the pipe for the pipeline will be bought up-front, said Iverson. That is because the price of pipe fluctuates quickly. “Piping companies do not hold to their pricing quote more than 30 days,” he said. Atkinson said that a staging area had not yet been determined. Several options were open to the contractor but that decision was still to be made. “Johansen Construction Inc. will provide the liability,” he said. However, Jones suggested that the city police department be informed of the staging area once it was determined and that way they could help patrol and keep burglars from taking expensive items.
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