Delayed Completion (means Fines for Dobson Brothers Construction Co.)

Wyatt Earp construction project over one month behind schedule

Project manager Matt Martin, who took over the project in May, said there were only a few items left to complete before Wyatt Earp was finished. He said it would definitely be completed by Aug. 17, although they were hoping to have it done before then.

Martin said the project has had three prior managers, so he didn't know the specifics of each cause for delay. However, the laying of concrete was waylaid at the beginning of the year because of an unexpected cold snap. Further delays came from an unusually wet Spring. (January and February were cold months. Who would have guessed that might happen?)

Slattery said the city's contract with Dobson Brothers states that for every work day past July 8 that work isn't complete, the city will fine the construction company $300.

However, if Dobson Brothers can prove to the city that the delays were beyond their control, they won't be assessed a fine for the lost days.

Last week the Lincoln, Neb. construction firm left a similar project in Garden City at a stand-still to focus labor on completing Dodge City's project.

Steve Cottrel, Garden City engineer, said the crews and subcontractors in Garden were absent for close to a month to aid in the Wyatt Earp construction.

"I have to remain optimistic that they'll be able to make up for lost time," Cottrel said.

The Garden City project received funding from the Kansas Department of Transportation.

According to Kirk Hutchinson, the southwest Kansas public affairs manager for KDOT, if Dobson Brothers goes past its prescribed deadline in Garden they will also receive a fine from the states.

Hutchinson estimated it would cost the company thousands of dollars per day.

Because KDOT had no administrative oversight in Dodge's construction, they are not involved in assessing fees.

The second phase of the Wyatt Earp construction, stretching west from 14th Avenue to Matt Down Lane, is slated to begin next year. Slattery said bids would begin this fall for the year-long reconstruction project.

Reach Mark Vierthaler at (620) 408-9932 or e-mail him at mark.vierthaler@dodgeglobe.com

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Lets see, does not being on the job count as "the delays were beyond their control, they won't be assessed a fine for the lost days." What is happening in Garden City is what happened to Dodge City. Dobson Brothers was somewhere else when they should have been here attending to business.