Repaving after sewer projects may cost more

Fully repaving streets after county sewer projects this summer could cost more than expected.

Earlier this year the City Council agreed to use city road funds to replace rather than patch roads torn up as a result of the county’s septic tank elimination program.

Paving costs for the Electric Railroad, Vera Terrace and Veradale Heights areas were estimated to be about $775,000. The county has received bids from one contractor for two of the projects, and the county now estimates total costs will come in about $160,000 more than expected.

“We haven’t been getting good competition,” Public Works Director Neil Kersten said at Tuesday’s council meeting.

Part of the difference can be made up with federal block grant money, Kersten said. At future meetings, the council will have to decide if it wants to dip further into city funds to pay for the rest of the paving.

Spokane County had funded the work with funds from its road tax. After incorporation, the city proposed a six-year property tax increase to fund the paving, which voters rejected in 2004.

The City Council then decided that roads above the sewer projects would be patched, only to be met with testimony from angry residents of the Sherwood Forest subdivision who wanted their roads replaced entirely.

The council agreed to fully pave the streets last spring. Earlier this year they also agreed to fund paving for this year’s sewer projects, with the caveat that there is no guarantee that the city will fund the paving in coming years.

Councilman Mike DeVleming suggested that delaying the Vera Terrace sewer project until next year might result in lower bids.

Kersten said he would run it by the county, which controls the sewer project.