By RICK MILLER
OLEAN Star
OLEAN — The Olean Common Council reluctantly agreed Tuesday to a $200,000 change order for Walkable Olean IV, the South Union Street project that includes a roundabout at Greene Street.
The 4-3 vote included yes votes from Jennifer, R-Ward 3; Jason Panus, R-Ward 2; Vernon Robinson Jr., I-Ward 6 and Council President John Crawford, D-Ward 5.
Voting no were Finance Committee Chairman Sonja McCall, D-Ward 4; Lawrence Bennion, R-Ward 1 and David Anastasia, D-Ward 7.
The $205,000 change order was needed after state Department of Transportation officials said no permit would be issued unless the city paves the section of South Union Street.
Last month, at the recommendation of Comptroller Lens Martial, aldermen added 10% contingency to the South Union Street project, bringing it to $3.9 million. To keep the project within its budget, aldermen had removed paving for the project, hoping the state would move it up on its paving schedule.
Mayor Bill Aiello said DOT officials last month rejected the idea of delaying paving the project between Greene Street and Franchot Boulevard and said they would not issue the construction permit without the paving included. The project needs to be completed by June 30, 2025 or the city risks losing its reimbursement, the mayor added.
Crawford, the council president who attended via video Zoom, said it was clear that if aldermen voted down the paving portion of the project the city would “walk away from about $3 million.”
McCall, who noted the paving uses up most of the contingency the council voted for the project last month. It was using the contingency “up front,” she said. “I don’t think we can come in with a $54,000 contingency.” The city has a history of projects coming in over budget, she added.
Crawford objected, saying this is not a cost overrun, but the addition of paving which the state insisted be part of the project after the council withdrew drew it from the initial contract.
Aiello said there have been talks with representatives from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office about additional grant funds to cover the higher costs, as well as future projects.
Panus said he didn’t want to hold up Walkable Olean IV any longer, but that he probably would not support increasing the contingency again.
The council approved
A $2,972,883 bid from Millennium Construction, Buffalo, was approved by the council on May 28. Millennium is the same contractor currently working on Walkable Olean III on East State Street including a mini roundabout at Barry Street.
On June 25, the bond resolution was restated by the common council to include a $326,355 contingency — before the paving component was added.
Aldermen also approved using $25,575 from the city Sewer Fund contingency to complete the North Olean levee and sewer reconstruction project and increasing to 12% the amount of ambulance revenue for the ambulance fund. The fund currently gets 8.5% of ambulance revenue to put aside to buy a new ambulance.
During the public comment part of the regular meeting, Glenn Wahl of Salamanca urged the aldermen to press forward with a request for proposals on a study to disconnect roof drains from the city’s sanitary sewer system in months, not years.
It is the quickest and cheapest way to end the discharge of untreated sewage into the Allegheny River during heavy rains, Wahl emphasized.
The city also needs to work on its communications with city residents on steps they can take to disconnect roof drains from the sanitary sewer system. Insert directions with water bills and use social media, Wahl urged.
“You would get a high rate of cooperation,” Wahl predicted. “The river has paid dearly for your delay,” he added. The city has been under a state consent order to halt the overflows for more than 20 years.
