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Contractor’s deadline to complete Snyder Road project extended

SALEM — The city Utilities Commission agreed to give more time to Marucci & Gaffney to substantially complete the Snyder Road sanitary sewer line project after learning of a waterline issue near the route.

The contracting company from Youngstown asked for an extension to Feb. 12 from the previously granted Jan. 31 extension, which engineer Jon Vollnogle of Howells and Baird also recommended.

The commission, though, decided to tack on even more time, voting to extend the substantial completion deadline to Feb. 28.

“They have earned that right with the way they have worked with us,” Commission Chairman Bob Hodgson said.

Commission members Randy Malmsberry, the vice chair, and Kyle Cranmer agreed, with Cranmer saying they haven’t done anything for the commission not to give them more time.

“They’ve been excellent to work with on our end, too,” Vollnogle said.

Marucci & Gaffney took over the project a year ago after the commission decided to part ways with the original contractor. Several unforeseen issues have come up to complicate the project, through no fault of the contractor, who the commission members praised for how they’ve handled the challenges and the project in general.

The latest issue deals with an existing waterline being too close to the connection point for the final sewer tie-in to the Fresh Mark plant for the new sewer line, so the waterline has to be rearranged in such a way to avoid a major shutdown. Vollnogle said the water will be shut down on Sunday morning. The final boring will be done under Snyder Road.

Once the line is finished, all that will be left is some landscaping that will be done in the spring.

Utilities Superintendent Don Weingart asked about a change order for the project and Vollnogle said it totals $63,953 to cover the cost of some additional pipe and some rearranging to the route that occurred after an issue was discovered behind the Ohio Edison substation off of South Ellsworth Avenue.

Hodgson also asked about extending the project from Ellsworth up to Marion along Depot Road, but Vollnogle said the optimal route would be straight under the middle of the road and that’s not typically permitted by the Columbiana County Engineer’s Office on county roads. Two major gas lines are on one side of the road and a city waterline on the other, so the project would require utility rearranging. For now, the idea appears to be off the table.

In other business, the commission heard updates on several projects and agreed to engage Burgess & Niple engineers to begin the design for Phase 3 wastewater treatment plant upgrades, pending receipt of an engineering loan being sought from the Division of Environmental and Financial Assistance.

mgreier@salemnews.net

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