The out basket: Dave Kugler was unimpressed with the county’s answer as to whether the streets of Silverdale would be restored with a full overlay when Silverdale Water District’s water main replacement project is over. The answer was no, but that any patches that didn’t meet county standards would have to be brought up to those standards.
Dave wrote, “There is no doubt that the contractor has turned Silverdale Way into a tire and suspension torture track and that significant upgrades will be required to many of the patches.
“Can you clarify why we have to pay the county to inspect this work and then formally require further repairs? The contractor, hopefully, is already working to county standards and will fix these issues without further time and expense beyond the contract.
“Then please clarify that the contractor, not the county, will be paying for the needed additional work. I can only hope the contractor is doing better work under the surface than what we see and experience on the top.”
The out basket: Dale Blackwood, the county’s lead right of way inspector, who provided the original answer, responded to this one too.
“All work done by contractors working in county-owned rights-of-way requires a permit,” Dale said. “The cost of the permit includes fees charged to Silverdale Water to cover inspections for the duration of the project.
“Their permit also requires, and we regularly receive, compaction tests for materials used during all phases of the project. We work closely with the contractor doing the work on this project for Silverdale Water. The contractor is responsible for the cost of any additional work required by our periodic inspections.
“Prior to a final inspection accepting their work, all work must comply with county road standards. Silverdale Water has a 2-year bond with their contractor to ensure any additional work needed to accept the project, as well as any deficiencies emerging during that period, are addressed and paid for through the bond.
“This is a long and extensive water main replacement project and the contractor has been responsive to issues, even if we called them during weekends and holidays. With the large amount of rain this spring and the volume of traffic that regularly uses Silverdale Way, the maintenance end of this project has been challenging. We continue to work with the contractor and Silverdale Water to ensure this challenge is met,” he said.
