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Rehoboth grants ocean outfall contracts

City of Rehoboth Beach

The City of Rehoboth granted construction contracts for its ocean outfall and wastewater upgrades Monday morning.

 

 

Among the contracts, Rehoboth approved Manson Construction of Seattle’s bid to install the ocean outfall pipe at Deauville Beach for nearly $28 million.

 

Questions have been raised about Manson because of an illegal dumping violation with the Environmental Protection Agency in 1998.

But Brandon Gott with GHD, the engineering firm working with Rehoboth, said GHD did background checks on Manson’s incidents and doesn't see them as a problem.

 

“It’s not uncommon for a marine contractor in this type of work to have incidents - especially if they’re not performance-based — based on a small spill or something like that, if they’ve been in the industry for 20-30 years,” Gott said.

 

All of the commissioners voted to award Manson the contract for the construction of the ocean outfall, but Commissioner Kathy McGuiness expressed some hesitation.

 

“With faith in partnering with the county, I’ll vote ‘aye,’” McGuiness said.

 

She later elaborated on her hesitation with Delaware Public Media.

 

“I was a little hesitant. No, it’s not my first choice. It seems to be my only choice,” McGuiness said.

She reiterated that she’s more confident since the county is on board the project.

 

Rehoboth is also bringing on A-Del Construction of Newark, Delaware to construct a pressurized pipe, called “a force main” for about $5.7 million, and Allen Myers Construction of Worcester, Pennsylvania to construct the effluent pumping station for $1.8 million. Combined with the nearly $28 million for the ocean outfall pipe, the bids total $37 million.

 

Mayor Sam Cooper said he’s confident in the project moving forward.

 

“As I’ve said so many times, it seemed like over the years we’ve moved at such a snail’s pace and now we’re moving leaps and bounds, and it’s incredible,” Cooper said.

 

On Wednesday, Rehoboth officials will ask the state’s Water Infrastructure Advisory Council for a loan to cover $4 million dollars, part of the city’s allocated $52.5 million for the project.

 

Construction on the outfall starts in October. Rehoboth officials expect it to be finished by April 30, 2018.

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