WA9302-CS 940624 SHIMEK, JACOBS & FINKLEA
CONSULTING ENGINEERS
8333 Douglas Avenue,//820 Dallas, Texas 75225 (214) 361-7900
ROSS L. JACOBS, P.E.
RONALD V. CONWAY, P.E.
JOHN W. BIRKHOFF, P.E.
MATT ARMSTRONG, P.E.
JOE R. CARTER, P.E.
GARY C. HENDRICKS, P.E.
June 24, 1994
C. L. SHIMEK. P.E.
I. C. FINKLEA, P.E,
Mr. Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.;
City Engineer
City of Coppell, Texas
Post Office Box 478
Coppell, Texas 75019-0478
Re: Village Parkway Ground Storage Reservoir No. 2
and Pump Station Improvements
Dear Mr. Griffin:
As we discussed on Thursday of this week, it is our understanding that a question has been raised concerning
our recent statement of qualifications submitted to the City of Coppell, for the Village Parkway Ground Storage
Reservoir No. 2 and Pump Station Improvements. Our response in the statement to the question as to whether
or not Shimek, Jacobs and Fmklea is currently working on a project in the City of Coppell, has come under
some scrutiny. The purpose of this letter is to attempt to clear up any questions the City of Coppell may have
and clarify our response.
Shimek, Jacobs and Finklea, Consulting Engineers, is not now working, nor has never worked, for a private
developer in the City of Coppell. We are not currently working on any capital improvements projects for the
City of Coppell. We have in the past worked for the City of Coppell in the capacity of providing engineering
services on a general basis assisting the city in the review of subdivision plans, development review, and other
functions normally conducted by the City Engineer. We were in fact, under contract to provide engineering
services on a full time basis, acting in the eapaciW of the CiW Engineer. In our past work in the City, our
intentions have been to look out for the best interest of the City of Coppell, along with the best interest of the
health, safety and welfare of the general public.
The project in question is a water supply line for the City of Irving, beginrang at the Dallas Water Utilities' Elm
Fork Treatment Plant in Carrollton, and extending westerly, generally along Sandy Lake Road through a small
portion of Coppell, and continuing southward in a easement to the City of Irving's Hackberry Pump Station.
Our client on this project is the City of Irving, and we are acting as the project design engineers. Our
interpretation of the question concerning projects we are working on in Coppell, was limited to work for
developers or the City of Coppell, and did not extend to the water line project we are currently designing for the
City of Irving.
Mr. Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E.;
City of Coppell
June 23, 1994
Pager No. 2
We do not believe our involvement as the design engineers on a water line project for the City of Irving, which
passes through a portion of the City of Coppell, will create a conflict of interest situation. The Village Parkway
project, in which we have been selected to negotiate an engineering services proposal, is not associated with the
City of Irving's project. Our design decisions on the Village Parkway project will in no way be affected by our
existing client/engineer relationship with the City of Irving.
Again, we would like to remind you the Shimek, Jacobs and Finklea, Consulting Engineers, is a municipal
engineering firm. Over 95% of our business is in municipal and governmental agency engineering. Most of the
remaining 5% of our business is for private indust.,3,. We have many mtmicipal clients in the metroplex area and
have served them all equally well over the last 25 years without the slightest hint of a conflict of interest. We
have avoided conflicts of interest by not at any time representing the interest of a private developer while
working for a city.
We endeavor to provide correct and honest information at all times and the integrity of our firm is one of our
greatest assets. It was not our intention to misrepresent our firm's status regarding work in the City of Coppell.
In fact, it was our understanding that the City of Coppell had prior knowledge of our involvement in the City of
Irving water supply line project when we were selected as the best qualified firm for the Village Parkway
Project. We simply did not believe that our project for the City of irving constituted a "project in Coppell."
We would welcome and appreciate the opportunity to discuss this situation with you, the City Manager, and or
the City Attomey, at your earliest convenience. I will be out of town until July 5. In my absence you are
welcome to contact either Ross Jacobs, Ron Conway or John Birkhoff, with our firm to discuss this matter
further. Thank you for showing confidence in the abilities of our firm. We look/f0rward to your response.
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