Though unhappy with Town Plaza construction pace, BOMA ‘extends’
Mayor Williams goes along ‘begrudgingly’
After voicing unhappiness with the lack of progress and problems encountered during the current construction of Phase 3 at the Campbell Station Inn, Farragut’s Board of Mayor and Aldermen — “begrudgingly,” to quote Mayor Ron Williams — granted Merit Construction a time extension and additional monies during it’s regular Thursday, Aug. 13 meeting.
Town engineer Darryl Smith reported the construction firm initially requested a 50-day extension due to inclement weather, a separate eight-day time extension to re-work a storm drain and a two-day extension to construct an added curb around a planter.
Additionally, Merit requested a $12,705 change order in the contract to pay for changes to the storm drain and curbing.
The project, which was awarded to Merit last August for $2.44 million, consists of entrance roads, parking and “a park-like plaza on the property,” located at the corner of Campbell Station Road and Kingston Pike.
“We definitely want to be fair, at least fairly generous,” Smith said. “From October through February, the months were extremely wet, and a lot of times they couldn’t get on the site.
“While they requested 50 days, the staff feels the best we can support is 37 additional days on the contract.”
During discussion, Williams said, “I think the amount of time they are asking for on the extension is out of line. ‘They need to get with it,’ is the best way to put it.
“They had had a contractor, who was obviously not on top of things as far as the dirt moving, and I disagree — it didn’t just rain on that side of the street because what is going on on the opposite site of the street (construction of Admiral’s Corner) — they were working when those guys were standing around,” he added.
“And I wonder how many more times are they going to build up those steps? Is that part of the build up? The fact that they built them up and tore them out?”
“They only tore them out the one time,” Smith said. “Unfortunately, when they took the forbes off there were voids and the concrete was a little too set. I’m not making excuses, but it just didn’t work.
“So the original steps that were poured a few weeks ago, they were rejected,” he added.
“I’ve seen two sets of steps, but you are saying just the one?” Williams asked.
“There was just one,” Smith replied. “And it is certainly a big cost to them, but not but not to us.”
“Worker bees out there working are making mistakes,” Williams said. “I guess they need days of extension to take care of their mistakes.”
“I support the (staff’s) recommendation with a firm message to ‘get it done,’” Alderman Scott Meyer said.
“What is the final date we are looking at?” Alderman Ron PInchok asked.
“Right now, I think we are looking at the middle of September,” Smith replied.
“Well, that’s pretty sorry,” Williams said. “I just hope they don’t have the same problems with our park on McFee Road.”
During the unanimous roll call vote, Williams noted he was casting his vote “begrudgingly.”
“I will pass along your message, as far as getting this thing done,” Smith said. “I will let them know that all the Board members pointed out they just want to see this done and done right.”
