DUBOIS – Upgrades for DuBois City’s Main Street sewer project are at a standstill until the city can take a closer look at the situation.
A stop work order was issued to Kukurin Contracting Inc. of Export last month, and just on Sept. 14, a cancellation order was issued to the firm. Then, on Monday, city council terminated their contract with Kukrin. That came just two business days after a judge ruled in the city’s favor for an injunction filed in the matter.
William J. Kukurin, president of KCI, said that the topics that brought about the problems include alleged incorrect stone that was used, compaction requirements and addendums.
“We don’t need a bunch of lawsuits,” Kukurin said when addressing the council Monday. “We need to get some lines in the ground.
Kukurin said the stone specified in the bid requirements for main street “don’t even exist in the PennDOT (Pennsylvania Department of Transportation) specs.”
Richard Hughes, of Hughes Engineering of Clearfield, was brought on as an independent engineer to review Kukurin’s claims versus those of the city.
“This is all about money here,” Hughes said. “The stone this gentleman wanted to put in the ground was like a Chevy. What was specified was a Cadilac.”
With the less expensive stone, Hughes said there was a $200,000 difference in price. “He either bid with the cheaper stone or used it anyway.”
Hughes added that the more expensive stone, that specified in the contract, is being used for Clearfield Borough’s sewer project currently.
Lance Marshall, DuBois City Redevelopment Authority director, said none of the contractors present at a meeting before bidding happened had a problem with the stone requirement.
Solicitor Toni Cherry was not present at Monday’s meeting.
Council is set to make a decision at their next meeting on Oct. 9.