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8.19.04 Fahey vows changes in Omaha's road work Changes are coming to the way Omaha handles road construction projects, but don't expect problems to disappear overnight. Mayor Mike Fahey and the heads of the two large public utilities acknowledged problems identified by a World-Herald investigation: construction is being slowed by loose government oversight, contractors who juggle work crews and poor coordination of utility relocations. The city bids most of its major projects without deadline dates for completion, the investigation also revealed. Fahey cited a variety of changes that might be on the way: a prequalification system to weed out overstretched contractors, improved accountability in utility coordination and incentives for early completion and penalties for slow work built into the city's contracts. He also said more contracts need deadline dates. "More specific deadlines have to be addressed in the contracts," Fahey said. "If you do that, we'll do a much better job of setting the expectation that the city has for the general contractor to get the work done in a timely fashion." Fahey said those involved in a project also can do a better job of informing the public what's going on so they understand the reasons for delays. M.U.D. president Tom Wurtz and OPPD chief executive officer Gary Gates said they were open to suggestions for how to speed utility work, including paying more overtime to crews and using outside contractors. But Wurtz said the contracting should be done by M.U.D., not the city, because M.U.D. would not accept some of the contractors the city uses. He also said that part of the responsibility for speeding up projects falls on contractors. M.U.D. does not want to spend extra money on overtime for a project that will simply languish after its done, Wurtz said. Contractors place most of the blame for delays on weather and the pace of utility work. City Council members said the issues have frustrated them for years. Marc Kraft and Frank Brown said they started talking to the executive branch about these issues shortly after they were elected in 1997. Brown said he tries to keep projects in his district moving. He said he's been told before that problems arise from understaffed utilities. He said they don't receive the same heat the city does from the public. Everyone does a good job, Brown said, but the problem is with coordination. "The problem is one entity isn't in control," he said. "All we keep hearing is it's the other guy's fault." Brown said he hopes the task force will put everyone on the same page and fix the problem. Newer council members also expressed frustration. Chuck Sigerson said he's gotten more calls about slow construction on Fort Street in his district than all other issues combined. He said he has asked for something to be done, but that changes must come from the executive branch. The city council is there to pass laws, not tell the Public Works Department how to administer policies, Sigerson said. "If you can find out where my power is I'd thank you because after three years I haven't found it yet," Sigerson said. Sigerson added that he's supportive of any changes public works can make to improve the system. Fahey said he was not surprised by the issues raised in the World-Herald series. He announced the formation of a task force to study the issues June 10, about a month after the World-Herald started its investigation. Fahey said he formed the task force in response to complaints from citizens at town hall meetings. Those complaints prompted Fahey to ask questions about the most problematic construction sites. He said he's been surprised by the answers. "It was eye-opening to find out the way we go about the process," Fahey said. The task force report is expected to arrive in the next few weeks. Fahey, Wurtz and Gates said the report will be their blueprint for addressing issues raised by the newspaper. Fahey said he might keep the task force around after it completes its report. He also wants to pick out a major upcoming project to use as a pilot program for new approaches. Change could take time. There is no way to alter contracts that have already been signed. Some changes might require new ordinances. "The ones we can implement quickly, we will," Fahey said. Who to contact
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