cedar_creek_site_showing_minutes.pdf

CEDAR CREEK DIVERSION CHANNEL LINING PROJECT

SITE SHOWING MINUTES

MEETING START TIME: 10:05 AM MDT

MEETING LOCATION: Council Chambers, City Hall, Columbia Falls, MT

ATTENDEES: See sign in sheet

Paul Smidansky, NRCS, opened the meeting and discussed the following:

-Direct non-technical questions to Contracting Officer. Discussion today will be limited to technical aspects of the project.

-City has given permission to provide water for earthfill moisture control from the outlet works of the dam. Drawings will be revised and posted in an amendment to the solicitation to show work limits extending upstream to include outlet works.

-Drawings will be revised and posted in an amendment to note where excavation waste sites shall be

-Clearing and grubbing will be added as a bid item.

-Within Construction Specification 7, Section 5, Method 3 will replace Method 1. NOTE: It has been decided since the site showing to select Method 2. The specification has been revised to reflect this and it will be posted in an amendment.

Maps with driving directions to the site were handed out. The attendees proceeded there via Cedar Creek Road.

The group viewed the borrow area, stockpile area, and clearing and grubbing disposal area. Grady Jenkins, Columbia Falls Public Works Director, pointed out the city water tank and cautioned that care must be taken during construction to avoid any adverse impact to the tank.

QUESTION: Is bedding under the liner required?

ANSWER: No. A maximum allowable rock size within the earthfill is specified meaning that screening of the borrow material is required. Maximum rock protrusion height from the subgrade and allowable subgrade surface deformation height is specified.

Paul Smidansky described and illustrated the subgrade requirements within the specifications.

The group next proceeded to the outlet works.

QUESTION: Is it possible to pull water out from the lake rather than at the outlet works:

ANSWER: Grady Jenkins responded no because of the high suction lift required and the difficulty of turning around at the auxiliary spillway.

The group proceeded to the Upper Lined Reach. Paul Smidansky discussed the work limits shown on the plans and pointed out the general areas requiring clearing and grubbing.

QUESTION: Will NRCS mark trees for clearing and grubbing.

ANSWER: No. Marking will be provided in accordance with Construction Specification 2, Clearing and Grubbing.

The group discussed the road along the channel. Paul Smidansky stated that the specifications require that the post-construction condition of roads be equal to that which existed prior to construction.

QUESTION: What are the payment units for Clearing and Grubbing?

ANSWER: Those will be determined and posted within an amendment. Note: Measurement and Payment Method 2 within Construction Specification 2, Clearing and Grubbing, has been selected.

The group proceeded to the temporary staging/stockpile area adjacent to Station 22+50 and then continued on to the Additive Lined Reach. Paul Smidansky explained that the additive items constitute a “package” and will not be added individually. The additive items would be added to the project if sufficient funding is available.

The group proceeded to the Lower Lined Reach. Paul Smidansky noted that earthfill extends across the embankment width in some parts of the project, which can be seen in the drawings. The group turned around at the downstream extent of the work limits and Paul Smidansky noted the overheard power lines for awareness. He also described the items of work and construction details of Construction Specification 7, Construction Surveys. He said that no particular type of equipment has been specified-just needs to be suitable to complete the construction. He also noted that CAD surface models are available, but contractors utilizing these for construction would be doing so at their own risk.

QUESTION: Is a dewatering permit required?

ANSWER: A permit is not required if dewatering is not required. Though the site looks dry today, dewatering is specified just in case wet conditions are encountered.

QUESTION: What is the overall completion date? What if bad weather develops in the fall? Can work be postponed until spring? Can it be postponed to the end of the next fiscal year?

ANSWER: Pending Contracting Officer response. 60 calendar days from issuance of Notice to Proceed (NTP); Weather delays shall be communicated to the CO for extension of period of performance based on severe weather.

Paul Smidansky noted that seeding is required to restore disturbed areas outside of the channel, including road shoulders, but that seeding is not required within the channel itself.

The group departed from the project site via the temporary construction access between Dehlbom Lane and the project site. The site showing concluded at approximately 11:15 AM MDT.