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HomeMy WebLinkAbout Recommended finding re_ Hadlock construction cost advantagePlease review the following email from Jim Scarantino regarding the Hadlock Construction cost advantage. I recommend that the Task Force find that the Port Hadlock UGA, where the new sewer is being installed, enjoys a significant construction cost advantage over the Mountain View site. Stormwater Advantage: At least $5.48 million. Building a new facility of any kind at the Mountain View site will require a very expensive stormwater system. DCW and Opsis estimate that a partial stormwater system for the Mountain View site will cost at least $5.48 million. Such an expensive system is required because it is well known that the Mountain View site sits on impervious soils. An elaborate system will be required to capture and detain stormwater, likely under the parking lot as that is the only area large enough. DCW and Opsis estimate that part of the system will cost at least $5.48 million. According to the Washington Stormwater Manual, the stormwater must then be treated, with the dirty water separated and held in a separate vessel, from which it must eventually be pumped. These systems require filters that must be regularly maintained. Some systems require electrical mechanical components, adding operating costs. The treated, cleaned up water must then be sent off-site. Opsis's concept assumed that water could be put in the Port Townsend stormwater sewers--but the city has no such stormwater sewers. Thus, the $5.48 estimated million cost is just for the front end of a stormwater system, which could ultimately cost many millions more. We simply do not know at this time how many millions more as their rough concept is very far from a completed, engineered design. The Hadlock area is well known to enjoy excellent infiltrating soils. That is why residences there can use simple gravity septic systems. These soils allow for the construction of very cost-effective on-site infiltration systems (e.g., rain gardens) that would cost as little as or perhaps even less than 5% of the stormwater system required for new construction at Mountain View. The Opsis/DCW infiltration system they briefly considered but which is unsuitable for Mountain View would cost less than 8% of the partial $5.48 million stormwater system they have discussed, and even less of a complete, engineered system able to send clean water off-site. No need to reroute water, sewer and electrical utilities: very large, but undetermined cost savings. The Mountain View site is crisscrossed by important sewer, water and electrical utilities serving other parts of the city. They would have to be excavated, disconnected, and asbestos-concrete piping either crushed, filled or removed. The utilities would then likely have to be rerouted under the street, all at enormous, undetermined expense and consumption of construction time. As there are several quite large suitable publicly-owned and undeveloped Hadlock sites, this problem can be avoided in the selection and design stages. New construction at Mountain View requires significant demolition and hazardous materials expenditures. The Opsis proposal requires demolition of the existing pool and gymnasium buildings. DCW estimates these demolition costs at $246,421. (p. 15 of Preferred Option Cost Update). DCW also has included a $60,000 hazardous materials removal charge in its estimate for gutting and rebuilding of the pool building. At least an equal charge should be included for hazardous materials removal of the gymnasium building. The cost for these items totals to $366,421, not including any contingency. None of the Hadlock sites would face these costs. Conclusion. The cost savings of building in the Hadlock UGA begin at $5.85 million and increase substantially as all the advantages are added in. It is possible that close to $10 million in costs can be avoided by building on the new Hadlock sewer system instead of the Mountain View site. Further investigation could verify this estimate, but the cost advantage that is already established is sufficient to find that building an aquatic facility in the Hadlock UGA would enjoy significant construction cost advantages over the Mountain View site. Best regards, Wendy Housekeeper Wendy Housekeeper Executive Assistant Board of County Commissioner’s Office P.O. Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 Office: 360-385-9384 Email: whousekeeper@co.jefferson.wa.us <mailto:whousekeeper@co.jefferson.wa.us> This is a reminder that all email to or from this email address may be subject to the Public Records Act contained in RCW 42.56. Additionally, all email to and from the county is captured and archived by Information Services.