BY JIMMY LAWTON
North Country This Week

OGDENSBURG – Ogdensburg tabled a wastewater treatment center change order that would have increased costs by $5 million and would have allowed the city to accept waste from other haulers to generate revenue.

Several project alternates were left out of the original project scope due to costs that exceeded engineering plans. The city borrowed enough money to cover the alternate projects, which also included repairs to city pump stations.

City Manager Stephen Jellie recommended moving forward with the change orders, but City Councilor Steve Fisher called for the action to be tabled.

Fisher said he believes there will be money available in the state budget for projects like Ogdensburg, and suggested the city hold off for 90 days to seek alternative funding.

Deputy Mayor John Rishe, who has repeatedly called for more grant funding for the project, asked DANC Director of Engineering Carrie Tuttle if it was possible to separate the project out and seek federal grant money. He pointed out that the city had secured federal funding, but lost it when they opted to use a project labor agreement.

Tuttle explained that it could be possible to do, but said doing so would likely increase costs for the project by as much as a million dollars.

She said the city is unlikely to secure enough funding to make up the difference, though she did not say it was impossible.

Rishe pointed out that Heuvelton’s project to connect to the city’s sewer line was funded at 45%, while the city’s project, which was much larger, was funded at around 25%.

Tuttle explained that Heuvelton’s shovel ready project benefited from other projects that were awarded, but not executed. She said when that occurs the money is pooled and becomes available for shovel ready projects.

Tuttle said that Heuvelton was extremely fortunate and that it was the highest Rural Development award she’d seen in her career.

Despite her explanation, Fisher said he still believed it was worth seeking additional funding in any form it could prior to moving forward.

Tuttle explained that the contractor had agreed to use it’s original pricing for the project, but it’s unknown if the contractor will do so with a 90-day delay.

Councilors Michael Powers and Dan Skamperle both urged moving forward with the change orders with hopes of allowing the city to start generating revenue by accepting waste from other haulers. They also feared delaying the project could increase costs as materials and labor continue to climb.

The resolution was tabled for 90 days with councilors Nichole Kennedy, Skamperle and Powers voting against the delay.

City Manager Stephen Jelle said he believes the projects will be approved once the city is able to determine if additional funding is available.