Members of the Snowflake Town Council approved an additional $6,100 for Arizona Department of Transportation design review on the Seventh South reconstruction project at their Sept. 9 meeting.

The town was informed by ADOT on July 30 that there will be a $10,000 to $18,000 shortfall in design review for the Seventh South Reconstruction Project, according to Public Works Superintendent Terry Cooper.

The project will reconstruct Seventh South from Jake Flake Crossing to east of Centennial Blvd.

Cooper explained that this is a federal-aid project coordinated by the Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) and administered by ADOT, and the town had entered into an intergovernmental agreement/joint project agreement with ADOT on June 12, 2012, that required $10,000 for design review. The town agreed to pay that amount, but the agreement further states that additional shortfall is to be encumbered by the town.

“We cried foul and got into negotiations with NACOG and ADOT,” said Cooper. “We engaged in conversation with them to see if there is any way we can reduce that.”

Cooper said that NACOG stepped in and took a look at the project, and the town was able to transfer $8,800 from the construction costs to design, which will maximize the 20 percent availability of total funding for design.

The transfer increased the town’s obligated match by $531.92 plus an additional $5,500 required to satisfy ADOT’s shortfall in design review, which will bring the total ADOT review fees to $24,300 instead of the $30,000 that the agency charges now for similar projects.

Mayor Kelly Willis asked what would happen if the council doesn’t approve the increase.

Councilman Lynn Johnson asked, “What if we said to them we don’t have it?”

“The fact of the matter is, we can tell them no and basically we have to pay them $150,000 they’ve done in design review,” said Town Manager Paul Watson. “We don’t have an option.”

Watson said that he did let ADOT know that this would go before the council and that it will affect the town.

“They’ve worked through this and gotten NACOG involved, so we’re being asked to pay an additional $6,100,” said the town manager.

It was noted that this is a $624,284.08 project and the most recent construction estimate from the design consultant is at $607,348. According to the agreement, should the actual bid exceed $624,284.08, the town will be responsible for paying the difference.

“If we back out, the worst that will happen is we have to pay all expenses paid to this date,” said Cooper.

Watson said that the town has funding in the streets and roads budget for capital improvements that were to be made this year or next year, and those funds could be used.

“I think what we’ve got to do is just go ahead and do this, and just hope and pray this estimate comes in close,” said the mayor, who then moved to approve the additional expenditure of $6,100 for ADOT design review on the Seventh South reconstruction project. The motion was seconded.

Councilman Tom Poscharsky suggested that the town have ADOT put in writing the $6,100 cost.

Following a brief discussion on requiring a contract for the $6,100, Mayor Willis stated, “The motion is as it stands.”

The motion passed unanimously.

Cooper said that ADOT has scheduled this project to begin next year.