FLOOD PROJECT HITS SNAG; REVISED LABOR RATES IMPEDE BID PROCESS

The start of construction on the Cape LaCroix/Walker Branch Flood Control project has been delayed because of changes in the prevailing labor rates, an Army Corps of Engineers official said Monday.

The delay prompted concern from Cape Girardeau City Manager J. Ronald Fischer, who said city officials want to see construction begin as soon as possible on the long-awaited project.

"Certainly, we want this thing to move on because ... the quicker this could be done and completed, the less chance we have for damage from floods," said Fischer.

Wayne Miller, project manager with the corps in St. Louis, said that bids originally were scheduled to be opened Wednesday.

But the bid opening was delayed because new federal prevailing wage rates have been established for the Southeast Missouri region, he said.

A new date will be set for bid openings to allow contractors time to submit bids that incorporate the new labor rates.

"We want the prospective contractors to use the proper rates in their bids," said Miller.

He said late Monday afternoon that the corps had not yet received the new wage rates for various construction trades. "We've been calling them (the Labor Department) today and we're hopeful of getting them (the rates) in our hands this week."

Miller said, "With the Fourth of July holiday ... I'm thinking we're talking mid-July for a bid opening."

Miller said he didn't know what specifically prompted the Labor Department to revise the wage rates.

Prevailing wage rates often are revised as a result of action taken by those involved in construction trades.

Miller said the corps must comply with prevailing wage rates in bidding the flood control project. "They (the Labor Department) have seen fit to put out new labor rates and we are bound to abide by the labor rates."

Fischer said the project, which is being funded by the city and the federal government, involves "a tremendous amount of team effort.

"One thing can hold the other up," he added. "That's why I say, any delay is certainly a concern."

Naturally, he said, city officials are concerned when the corps says there will be an "indefinite delay" in opening bids for the first phase of construction on the $35 million flood control project.

But Fischer said the project is "being designed and bid by the Corps of Engineers and the city does not want to get involved in making an issue of which way to handle this."

Ken Eftink, Cape Girardeau's planning services coordinator, said: "The indications that we have from the corps is that it is not going to be a major delay."

But he added, "We would like, of course, for the construction to get started as soon as possible."

Eftink said it now appears that construction work won't begin until at least August.