All four divisions in action on water main project

With work heading north on Division Street, all four divisions of the water main improvement project are now being worked on. Creston Waterworks gave progress updates on the project during their monthly meeting Tuesday.

Division 1’s progress has moved steadily west along Adams Street over the last month, with the project as of Tuesday reaching New York Avenue. The division will see contractors performing pressure tests and disinfection over the next phase of the project.

Division 2 and Division 3 are at a similar progress point, with just resurfacing left to go. Waterworks General Manager Steve Guthrie said the utility has put a completion date of May 22 for Division 2 (Cherry Street) and a to be decided date for Division 3 (Mills Street). If the contractor doesn’t complete the division in time, the utility will consider penalties.

“We’re basically down to resurfacing, and it’s taken long enough that we have actually put a May 22 completion date on that division.” Guthrie said. “If they don’t, we will consider liquidated damages, which the board will have to make that decision. ... It’s taking too long. They need to get it done. Should have been done a month ago in our opinion.”

Division 4 started progress on April 29, moving north on Division Street. This is the only division which didn’t start progress in 2025, but will likely finish by the end of the summer.

With all four divisions now proceeding, pay applications were issued for work performed over the last month. For work on Division 1, United Utilities was issued a pay application of $234,028.21. For work on Division 2 and 4, C&J Conservation was paid $88,742.86 and $53,603.75, respectively. For work on Division 3, Crain Construction was paid $91,084.10.

In other waterworks news...

The waterworks wished to issue a notice on a Mid-American project on Summit Lake Avenue which has stirred community discourse. Guthrie said the project is a natural gas power plant and not a data center. He said the utility had received calls about the project, and confirmed the plant would use less than 1% of water capacity at Summit Lake per year.

Creston Waterworks received a categorical exemption for environmental review on their lead service line replacement project. This means the full brunt of the project can now be tackled, but noted they will likely start the project after the water main replacement project is completed. Bids will open in the summer with a fall start time.