First Avenue Project In Limbo Again Due To Lack Of Compliant BiddersMarch 25th, 2008
By Tammy Gray-Searles
A $308,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that is in danger of being revoked from the City of Holbrook has experienced another delay.
Bids for work on First Avenue, which would be paid for by the grant, were recently opened and according to City Attorney Sterling Solomon, there were no compliant bidders.
The issue of the lack of compliant bidders will be taken before the city council on Tuesday, March 25, to determine the city’s next step. The project must be completed by August in order to retain the funds. Although the city has been working closely over the last several months with the Arizona Department of Housing, the agency administering the grant, department officials have made it clear that no additional time to complete the project will be authorized.
Mayor Jeff Hill previously expressed concern that if the city fails to properly finish the grant project, an anticipated $300,000 CDBG grant in 2009 could be denied.
The grant for the current project was awarded in August 2005. In July 2007 the city was notified that it was in danger of being revoked if the project was not completed by the August 2008 deadline. At that time, the Department of Housing raised concerns about the lack of communication from city administrators. Since that time, city administration has changed, and Interim City Manager Fern Larson has indicated to the council that she is doing everything within her power to complete the project on time.
Due to rising costs, the original grant project has been scaled back. The reduction in work has been approved by the Department of Housing, but department officials have indicated that they will not approve any more changes to the project. Under current plans, approximately 1,800 linear feet of 8” and 12” water lines, and 1,800 linear feet of wastewater lines along First Avenue from Buffalo Street to Florida Street will be replaced. The estimated cost of the project is more than $440,000. Although the Department of Housing would not approve another reduction in project plans, Larson reached an agreement in late January that would allow the city to start the project as planned and finish at whatever point funds ran out. In other words, only as many feet of new water and sewer lines would be installed as the grant would fund, not the entire 1,800 feet. In addition, only those lines in need of replacement will be replaced. Lines in good condition will remain.
The grant originally included complete replacement of water and sewer lines, as well as new pavement, curbs, sidewalks and gutters, along First Avenue between Hopi Drive and Iowa Street.
In order for the project to be complete by August construction must begin soon to avoid delays caused by monsoon weather.
Larson was not available by press time to detail what options might be available to the city to complete the project in time despite the lack of compliant bidders.
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