TRANSMITTAL LETTER FOR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 20, 2018
COMMITTEE ON MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS
Mr. John P. Murray, Acting Executive Director
Title
Declaration of an emergency and ratification of execution of contracts to conduct an investigation into and repair damage caused by the August 30, 2018 roof collapse at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant
Body
Dear Sir:
On Thursday, August 30, 2018, at approximately 11:00 am, the roof of the sludge concentration building at the Calumet Water Reclamation Plant collapsed. The collapse appears to have occurred as a result of an explosion within the building. Ten individuals were injured as a result of this incident and there is significant structural damage to the building.
The damage to the sludge concentration building required immediate repair and an investigation was immediately necessary to prevent any similar incidents in the future.
The Acting Executive Director authorized execution of contracts to effectuate repairs and to perform a forensic investigation. Additionally, other expenditures directly related to this emergency were authorized. Reserve Claim Funding was approved for this work. The Board of Commissioners was polled and tentatively declared an emergency affecting public health and safety, authorizing the Director of Procurement and Materials Management to issue Purchase Orders for the executed contracts and approve related expenditures, pending a public declaration of the emergency at the September 20, 2018, Board Meeting. As of this date, contracts totaling $100,000 have been executed as follows:
18-800-02 to IHC Construction Companies, LLC in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00, and 18-300-002 to Wiss, Janney, Elstner & Associates, Inc. in an amount not to exceed $50,000.00.
In consideration of the above, and in accordance with Section 11.5 of the Purchasing Act, it is requested that the Board of Commissioners declare an emergency affecting public health and safety to repair the roof collapse damage, to determine the cause of the collapse, to determine any existing explosion hazards, and to perform all work to mitigate such hazards. Further, that the Board of Commissioners hereby approve and ratify all prior actions by the Acting Executive Director and staff related to the implementation and execution of the two specified emergency contracts.
It is also requested that the Board of Commissioners fix the date on which the emergency is to terminate as September 20, 2019. A full report of the resolution of the emergency will be presented to the Board of Commissioners at a forthcoming regular Board Meeting.
Requested, Sergio Serafino, Acting Director of Maintenance and Operations
Disposition of this agenda item will be documented in the official Regular Board Meeting Minutes of the Board of Commissioners for September 20, 2018