Weirton Area Water Board officials gave the official go ahead to move forward with the federally mandated disinfection byproducts project on Friday after a pre-bid construction meeting.

Several Water Board officials attended the pre-bid meeting held at the Weirton City Building where employees from both Thrasher Engineering, which is overseeing the project; Cattrell Companies, contractor for the project, and the West Virginia Bureau of Public Health.

Jonathan Carpenter of Thrasher Engineering kicked off the pre-bid meeting by discussing the general requirements for the project. He said all award documents and the notice to proceed were ready to be signed. He said the Weirton Area Water Board was set to meet after the pre-bid meeting to approve and sign the proper documentation.

Carpenter said there will be 425 days to achieve substantial completion on the project, which was extended. He informed the representatives from Cattrell Companies, located in Toronto, Ohio, that all change orders for extensions resulting from bad weather must be done on a monthly basis. He then asked Buzz Cattrell when they planned to begin construction.

"If the weather stays mild, we could start with some utility relocation. We understand the complexity of this project and don't want to officially break ground until late winter early spring," said Cattrell.

Carpenter also asked for a construction schedule to be approved by Thrasher Engineering to which Cattrell stated he'd have it to him within two weeks.

Cattrell said they do not plan to use sub-contractors at this point and plan to provide a monthly report and cooperate with all local, state and federal on-site inspections as well. Carpenter asked for all pay requisitions be ready monthly for the Weirton Area Water Board meetings, which take place on the Thursday following the regular Weirton City Council meeting, for approval.

John Kerns of Thrasher Engineering will serve as one inspector and the liaison between contractors on the project and Thrasher Engineering. Carpenter said he wants to make this project a cooperative effort between the three entities involved.

Other items such as safety concerns, warranties and a final walk-through on the project also were discussed.

The Weirton Area Water Board also met on Friday where all approvals for the bid, award of contract, issuance of a notice to proceed and authority to move forward were given.

The project is being put together to further treat the city's water following the institution of new regulations by the Environmental Protection Agency.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)