KINGWOOD — Misinformation could have put phase two of a water project on hold, according to Clay Riley, vice president of business development for engineering firm The Thrasher Group.
“The information I got from former employees was you weren’t interested in doing the project now,” Riley said about the 10-year delay at Tuesday’s Kingwood Water Board meeting. “We thought the project had been put on hold.”
Board Member Bill Robertson said the board didn’t know it had a contract with Thrasher until it started advertising for engineers.
The Thrasher Group is interested in completing phase two of a different water project that began 11 years ago. Phase one of the project was completed eight or nine years ago.
“I’m trying to piece together a 10-year gap,” Water Board Member Michael Loughry said. “It’s like someone paints your house, doesn’t send you a bill, then comes back 10 years later and tells you there’s a little corner they need to finish.”
Riley said phase two was not billed or paid for. He said the firm will stand behind the fees in the 10-year-old contract.
Phase two of the project included a water line on W.Va. 26; water line replacement for Main Street, South Price Street, High Street, Swartz Street and the water plant and improvements.
Robertson said it would require more research to find out where on W.Va. 26 the water line was to be replaced.
“This is going to be a slow process. We will go through the 11 (engineering) firms that submitted bids,” he said. “We can’t interview for phase two but we can work on other projects.”
