HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS - RESOLUTION 2012-72 CITY OF WATERLOO
Council Communication Ciru
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City Council Meeting: January 30, 2012
1
Prepared:January 26, 2012 (
Dept.Head Signature: Eric Thorson, PE, City Engineer ;
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SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO ASSESSEMENT
F.Y.2012 SIDEWALK REPAIR ASSESSMENT PROGRAM-ZONE 1
B6z B BUILDERS AND SUPPLY
CONTRACT NO.811
Submitted by: W.Wayne Castle, PT S, EI,Associate Engineer
Recommended City Council Action:
Approve amendment to assessment due to correction of documents and amount.
Property owners: Debra S Pichelmann,William E Pichelmann
Address: 853 Riehl Street,Waterloo, Iowa 50703
PIN: 8913-23-102-003
Control#35 8110646
Certificate#0012721-0
Old assessment$468.54
New assessment$195.34
Summary Statement: Mr.William Pichelmann recently raised a concern about the sidewalk assessment for
his property. His assessment included a charge for a water valve adjustment, which he claims did not
occur, as per his conversation with one of the contractor's workman. Mr. Pichelmann came to the City
Council meeting in May and asked for further clarification. I visited his home after the meeting and based
on my review, told him that the sidewalk panel definitely needed replacement, with a water valve
adjustment possibly necessary, but we would not be certain until construction commenced.
Our pre-construction notes indicate that a water valve adjustment was necessary due to the water valve
being located partially within the sidewalk and posing a tripping hazard.
Typical water valve adjustment requires shallow excavation around the water valve to expose the pipe. The
contractor then cuts the pipe, shortens the length, and reattaches the sections with setscrews, allowing for
future height adjustment as needed. This method requires that an area around the water valve be
disturbed. Our post-construction notes state that the water valve is now outside of the sidewalk, with the
edges of the sidewalk panel matching the edges of the existing sidewalk panels and the top of the water
valve flush with the sidewalk. The post-construction photos do not show soil disturbance associated with
this type of water valve adjustment.
The water valve adjustment section of the special provisions within the contract documents state the
contractor shall adjust the valve to the finished elevation of the sidewalk,with any cutting or addition to the
water valve pipe being cause for payment. An adjustment of the water valve occurred, but it does not
appear that the adjustment that occurred required the contractor to make any physical changes to the water
valve pipe. Ambiguity appears to exist within the water valve adjustment special provisions section that will
be dealt with before next year's sidewalk program commences.
Based on Mr. Pichelmann's testimony, the inspector's notes and the field evidence, I do not believe that we
can charge the Piclielmann's for this water valve adjustment and thus we must redo the assessment for 853
Riehl Street.
Expenditure Required
Source of Funds Property Owner Assessments
Policy Issue N/A
Alternative None
Background Information:
cc: Pauline Closson, Engineering Department