By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
“It’s currently in the hands of the attorneys,” one Olean city official told members of the Olean Common Council Tuesday in reporting the status of the War Veterans Park splash pad.
Two weeks ago aldermen agreed to a memorandum of understanding Mayor Amy B. Sherburne had negotiated with the contractor and engineering firm that called for the deficiencies to be corrected starting Sept. 21. It called for the deficiencies to be corrected by November.
Construction started more than two years ago by contractor PV Paving & Concrete of Smethport, Pa. It was scheduled to open at the beginning of the 2025 season.
Under the terms of the MOU, PV Paving and Concrete and the engineering firm CPL would correct the concrete deficiencies that did not meet specifications. It involves removing the concrete pad and reinstalling a new one that meets specifications.
PV Paving submitted the low bid of $459,540 for the splash pad construction and installation in May 2024. It was expected to open the following year. The Common Council had purchased the splash pad equipment for $800,000 in 2022 using Covid 19 funding.
Public Works Director James Sprague said city officials are waiting for the agreement. He described one holdup as “a potential request that the city waive liquidated damages from August of 2025” until completion in November. City attorneys are reviewing the company’s latest proposal.
The city has not added up actual liquidated damages, but total cost would probably be crippling to PV Paving, Sprague added.
Council President Lawrence “JR” Bennion, R-Ward 1, commented that the dates and parameters in the latest proposal were different.
Sherburne replied that it is being reviewed by the city’s attorneys to see what the differences are from the original proposal. “We’ll proceed cautiously with our attorney’s advice.” She added the agreement would be “covering the city and making sure that the end result is what we are hoping for.”
The mayor said, “I’m hoping by tomorrow (Wednesday) we’re going to have an agreement.”
Aldermen voted 4-1 to apply to the Cattaraugus Region Community Foundation for a $2,500 grant toward the cost of a new Welcome to Olean sign on city-owned property at Fall Road and Buffalo Road. Voting no was Alderman Joseph Keary, R-Ward 2. Ward 5 Alderman John Crawford was absent.
The council previously awarded the design and construction of the new welcome sign to Billing Steel Manufacturing. The council also committed the use of city bed tax money for the sign.
Bennion postponed action on resolutions to amend the city code in the areas of sidewalk maintenance, planting of trees and shrubs, curb cuts and building permits for two weeks.
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