New law puts a halt to Glenwood wastewater project ( Davis-Bacon Unions ? )

Post Independent ^ | November 18, 2009 | John Gardner

[george76]

23 projects statewide affected by bill.

The 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill that was signed into law on Oct. 30 by President Barack Obama has reached the Western Slope, and has brought the Glenwood Springs wastewater treatment facility project, and many more around the state, to a screeching halt.

the word came last week that the project would have to be put on hold, indefinitely, awaiting further clarification from the Environmental Protection Agency.

Hecksel said that he was unsure as to why the Glenwood project would be included because the project was not seeking federal funding...

The intent of the bill, in the context of the Clean Drinking Water and Wastewater programs, was to appropriate $3.9 billion to help more than 1,500 communities improve their drinking water and wastewater systems...

But the bill includes language requiring projects using funds through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds to include the Davis-Bacon prevailing wage requirement. That is where the problem arises.

The city did not include the Davis-Bacon requirement in the wastewater contract because it was not required when the contract went out to bid on Oct. 23.

And ripples are making their way around the nation as well.

“Colorado is not alone,” he said. “A lot of states are in the same position.”

Calls to 3rd Congressional District Rep. John Salazar's office, seeking comment, were not immediately returned ...

[shotdog]

Repeal Davis-Bacon. This is an old union grab for more public money. sd