Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
Additional $200,000 requested
PULLMAN—The consulting firm managing the delayed downtown Pullman reconstruction project is requesting an additional $200,000 from taxpayers to cover cost overruns.
Welch Comer, hired by the City of Pullman to oversee the project, originally signed a contract valued at just over $1 million for this year’s work.
The firm now claims the extra funding is necessary for tasks outside their original agreement.
The downtown reconstruction project began in April and includes rebuilding underground utilities, repaving Main Street and installing new sidewalks.
Initially, Main Street was expected to reopen to traffic in mid-October, but delays pushed that date to mid-November.
The project is now expected to be completed early next year.
Welch Comer has attributed the additional costs to public outreach efforts, such as producing social media videos, which were not included in the original contract.
The firm also redesigned the Pine Street Plaza after the city council scrapped plans for a controversial Downtown Walk of Fame monument. They cited excessively contaminated soil under Main Street as another factor in the cost overruns.
Additionally, Welch Comer said they dealt with recurring issues involving substandard concrete that failed to meet specifications for several weeks.
The firm’s project management has been under scrutiny since last year when they assured Pullman City Council that the work would take only four months.
The timeline was extended after no contractors bid on the project under Welch Comer’s initial plan.
If the city council approves Welch Comer’s request, the additional funds will come from city utility and stormwater fees, transportation funds and Whitman County economic development dollars.
The council will consider the firm’s request during its meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 3, which begins at 7 p.m. in city hall.
The meeting occurred after press time. The Whitman County Gazette will follow up on the meeting in its next issue.
The item is listed on the consent agenda and will only be discussed if a council member requests further review.
The city funds most of the roughly $12 million project with $9 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds.
The rebuild has faced consistent budget overruns, forcing major plan portions to be cut.
The construction contract with Apollo Inc. was also higher than anticipated, and the council previously approved Apollo’s request for additional funds when the project began falling behind schedule.
Olivia Harnack is a Journalist at the Whitman County Gazette. Olivia is enrolled at University of Idaho and is majoring in digital film studies. She serves in the United States Army National Guard and is proud to serve Whitman County.
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