Suddenly, Du Quoin water line project costing $65,700 more

A very necessary expansion of Du Quoin's downtown water line project one block westward and somebody's miscue on not including the cost of 30 homes and businesses being connected to the new water line raised the cost of the work by at least $63,000 at Monday's Du Quoin city council meet.

All agreed that while construction crews are in Du Quoin extending the project one block west of the intersection of West Main and Hickory streets is important after the water department chronicled all of the problems with an aging water line there.

What surprised some council members was that Du Quoin accepted the low bid from contractor Korte & Luitjohan not realizing that the bid did not include the cost of connecting residents and businesses along East & West Main Streets to the new water line. The council is blaming the Murphysboro firm of J.T. Blankinship & Associates for the oversight. The cost of making the connections is $750 per connection for approximately 30 connections. When you do the math, that's $22,500.

City administrator Brad Myers found the silver lining and said that even with the connection costs added, the Korte & Luitjohan bid still comes in lower than the next highest bidders.

When you add that $22,500 to the added $45,200 to extend new water lines another block the total new expense is $65,700.

Finance commissioner Rex Duncan was the voice of reason, saying it only makes sense to extend the project while the contractor is here. "The only issue is to not delay the project." Water commissioner Yvonne Spencer said the city will try and recover or mitigate the added $22,500 connection cost problem. All agreed its a very good capital project for Du Quoin which must move forward.

Commissioner Duncan said he has spoken to representatives of the Kroger Co. about the impending closure of the Du Quoin store March 23. "They feel the weight of their decision. I expect them to continue to embark on their plan. He said the city will do all that it can to put job search resources in place for employees and support them in every way. "The good news is that this creates a vacuum and someone will see this as an opportunity (to open a new store in Du Quoin). He described the Kroger building as "a great building in a great location." He said the town should be grateful to Kroger for the decades of its loyalty to Du Quoin.

In other action, the council:

• Approved condemnation 411 Winters Ave.

• Approved a fundraising roadblock application for Du Quoin Lions Club on October 12, 2013

• Approved fundraising roadblock application for American Legion on April 26, 2013.