The council voted unanimously during its June 1 meeting to hold off on sending an additional $116,313 to construction management company ARKK Engineers that would be used to cover the extra time construction has taken on the two projects.
A key question that council members will look to answer is whether ARKK’s original contract stipulates that the management company is obligated to work through completion of construction.
According to Council Member Catherine Lewis, the city’s contract stipulates ARKK “will supervise the project until its completion.”
“I believe both of these projects were mismanaged by ARKK Engineers, that caused many delays, as well as traumatic experiences for business owners and residents alike,” Lewis said. “I don’t feel we have any obligation to pay them more money beyond what they already contracted for.”
ARKK Engineers was originally contracted for $403,685 to oversee the two projects, at the 4500 Block of Maple and Bolivar, and the 5100 and 5200 block of Spruce and Fifth, between Cedar and Locust streets. Both projects are part of Group C, Phase 2 in the city’s Bonds for Better Bellaire program. ARKK has been tasked with overseeing street, drainage and sidewalk improvements since April 2019, when construction began on Maple and Bolivar.
Construction and weather delays were cited by ARKK when it requested an extension on each of the two projects, which were later granted by the city of Bellaire. The original completion date for Maple and Bolivar was Dec. 24, 2019; substantial completion came Feb. 28. The project for Spruce and Fifth, meanwhile, sits at 75% completion, with an original target completion date of Feb. 15.
A-Status Construction is performing the actual work on the projects, with total contracts of $1.76 million for Maple and Bolivar and $2.49 million for Spruce and Fifth.
Bellaire City Council next meets June 15.
