Bullhook project stalled while contract discussed

Work on replacing the culverts in the Bullhook storm drainage ditch under Havre has stalled while city officials and the contractor negotiate what the contract requires.

"Havre and the contractor are trying to work out a difference of opinion on the contract," Havre Mayor Tim Solomon said Tuesday afternoon.  "We're hoping to get (the differences of opinion) settled soon and get them back to work."

Havre City Council Chair Andrew Brekke said the city attorney has been brought in to the dispute.

"I am not aware of any solution at this point, so all I can say currently is that I am aware that the contractor has not returned to work and that the mayor and our legal counsel are diligently working to resolve the situation," Brekke said.

Jennifer Forsyth of Hi-Line Law, who represents the city, did not return calls asking for comment by print deadline this morning.

Kincaid Civil Construction out of Mesa, Arizona, had been awarded the $2.6-million project that is now on hold.

The project manager declined to return multiple requests for comment by print deadline this morning.

The project engineer from Great West Engineering out of Helena, Amy Deitchler, referred all questions to director of public works, Dave Peterson.

Peterson had said April 14 that Kincaid Construction was scheduled to come back to work next week. Peterson said April 20 there were no problems, and it was still a matter of settling on a start date. Peterson said again Friday that nothing had changed and it was a matter of figuring out a start date.

The project includes installing concrete culverts in Bullhook, the drainage that runs from south of town under much of Havre and drains storm runoff into the Milk River.

The concrete box culverts that are being installed to replace the old and collapsed culverts, which would serve as pathways for city drainage, are built by Glacier Precast Concrete out of Kalispell. Glacier Precast is owned by Havre-native Tom Anderson, who said Tuesday that the dispute has not affected his company.

"We're paid in full for everything we have manufactured," Anderson said.