Desloge awards second half of contract to Unnerstall

DESLOGE — When Unnerstall Inc. is done with phase one of Desloge’s Cantwell Stormwater Improvement Project, it will move right along with phase two. The contractor was originally given a Dec. 10 deadline to have phase one complete, but because the board of aldermen awarded the work for phase two to Unnerstall, the original deadline has become a nonfactor. Phase one and two should be complete sometime in June.

“Because we authorized them (Unnerstall) to continue with phase two we are not that concerned with the Dec. 10 deadline,” said City Administrator Greg Camp. “Phase two will be done some time in June.”

The board of aldermen awarded the contract for phase two to Unnerstall during its Nov. 7 meeting. The cost of the project to control stormwater runoff will be $561,489.

“It was a cost-saving measure to go ahead and award a contract for phase two,” Camp said. “There were several temporary caps and tie-ins that were included in the phase one work. By moving right along with phase two we won’t have install those temporary fixes and then have to remove them.”

Camp said phase two will consist of extending the stormwater project another block to the north.

“After phase two is done we will probably take a year off from taking on any other stormwater projects,” Camp said. “We will need to let some money get built back up in the stormwater fund. During the time off we can identify other stormwater projects and take care of the prep work that needs to be done.”

Phase one of the project includes the complete reconstruction of portions of Cedar Street and Evergreen Street located in the Cantwell neighborhood along with portions of Cantwell Lane, Harry Jr. Street and Vandervoot Street.

Other improvements include a new asphalt surface, concrete curbs and storm drains where needed. The project is being paid for by the stormwater improvement fund.

Camp said most of the big drainage work is done and Unnerstall has started to install the curbing.

“The wet weather has put a wrinkle into things,” Camp said. “We need dry weather to compact the gravel for the road base. We will then go over that with three inches of asphalt.”

Work began on phase one in July. The price tag for the first phase was $653,320.

Camp said Unnerstall will not have a problem working through the winter months.

“Contractors of this sort are looking for this type of work for the winter months,” Camp said. “While it’s harder work because of the weather, it guarantees that the contractor will have work during the slow months of the year.”

In August of 2004 residents in Desloge passed a half-cent sales tax levy for stormwater improvements. The measure was approved 603-544. City officials said prior to getting the sales tax levy passed, there was a lack of funding to address stormwater problems.

Chris Cline is a reporter for the Daily Journal. Contact him at 573-431-2010, ext. 114 or at ccline@dailyjournalonline.com.