Tetra Tech was approved by the Taylor Town Council last week to design a Paper Mill Road project scheduled for 2018.

“We get a round of funding from the Federal Highway Administration,” explained Town Manager Gus Lundberg.

Lundberg noted that these funds are limited to certain areas in town where they can be used, and the council previously made a decision to continue the Paper Mill Road project.

“We want to try something different,” said Lundberg, explaining that staff would like to hire a local engineering firm, which the town would have to pay for because the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) has approved consultants, but most of them are in the Valley, none are local. Lundberg said that this has caused problems with the Love Lake Road project.

“This time we want to go with local engineers,” he said. “We will not lose any money, but we will have to pay the engineering.” The town will receive $800,000, which will be used for the road.

Lundberg proposed hiring Tetra Tech to design Paper Mill Road from 700 West and widening it as far as the $800,000 allotted for construction. The scope of work would be kept open until they have a better idea how far the money will go, but he felt it would go to Highland Drive and hoped it would be enough to go to Foothills Blvd.

“In summary, we want to use a local firm and have that project ready to go,” said Lundberg, noting the project is scheduled for 2018.

Doug Brimhall of Tetra Tech was present and added that at one time the town hired them to design Paper Mill Road all the way to the bridge, another time they designed to Highland. “We have a lot of preliminary work done on this,” said Brimhall.

It was noted that even though Tetra Tech is local, it must abide by ADOT rules.

“We feel we’re a little bit more flexible than what you’ll get working with someone out of the community,” said Brimhall.

The council unanimously approved entering an agreement for professional services with Tetra Tech for the Paper Mill Road widening project.

The council was also unanimous in its approval of an intergovernmental agreement with ADOT for highway planning and construction.

“This is an agreement with ADOT basically telling us we’re going to pay for our own design and we’ll abide by all their rules, and the engineering firm will do that as well,” explained Lundberg. He also noted that the town will have to pay a $30,000 plan review fee to ADOT and grant money cannot be used for this. “We do have the money budgeted,” he said.

Councilman Jason Brubaker pointed out that, according to the paperwork, this could be paid in $5,000 increments and asked Lundberg if he was going to take advantage of that.

Lundberg explained that he would be discussing it with ADOT officials.

“If we didn’t have the money for that, Gus (Lundberg) wouldn’t have this on the agenda tonight,” said Mayor Fay Hatch.