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An Arkansas design-build contractor is facing a $60,000 fine for missing a project deadline by 60 days.
The Delta Regional Airport Authority, near Colt in eastern Arkansas, voted unanimously Thursday night (Sept. 29) to impose a $1,000-a-day fine on Rose Construction Inc., of Covington, TN, for delays in completing grading and drainage work over the summer, the Times-Herald of Forrest City reports.
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Garver Engineers |
| The new airport will replace two constrained facilities in neighboring counties. |
Blake Roberson of Garver Engineers, which is overseeing construction of the $17 million airport, said the 60-day time frame was settled after factoring in time for suspensions of work due to weather and other factors. Roberson told the board that the contract with Rose Construction allowed for a penalty of up to $1,000 per day for each day over the allotted time limit, the Times-Herald reported.
Appeal Possible
Roberson said Rose Construction officials will be invited to the October board meeting if they want to appeal the penalty.
Company officials did not respond Monday to a request for comment. The company performs design-build, construction, maintenance, field and other services for civil-utility, structural, industrial, commercial and special projects.
Plans for the new airport include a 5,003-foot runway; a full parallel taxiway; apron tie-down space for nearly 30 aircraft; T-hangars; a terminal area with space for a general aviation terminal building; fueling facilities; space for corporate, private, and additional T-hangar development; vehicle parking; and an access road. Future planned improvements include a 1,000-foot extension of the runway and taxiway.
‘They Could Have Been Working’
Roberson and DRAA chairman John Kerr said there had been several days when the company could have been working at the Colt site but prioritized other projects for completion, the newspaper reported.
Board member Shannon Hobbs, who works in the Colt area, said he could recall several days early in the process when he felt work could have been taking place, but equipment wasn't moving.
“They came in here heavy and brought all of their equipment and everything,” said Hobbs, according to the newspaper. “It looked like they were going to work, and then all of a sudden, there was nothing going on out at our site.
“It was like John said: They had something else to do and went and took care of that when they could have been working. There were a lot of pretty days they could have been working when there was nothing going on.”
Days Catalogued
Roberson told the board that Garver officials have catalogued the work and progress from the beginning of the contract and said he could provide the board with a list of days when work was not taking place.
Neither Roberson nor board officials could be reached Monday for additional comment.
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