Villages of CC 6-CS 951221 MEMORA.NDL~! ~
To: Jim Witt, City Manager
From: Kenneth M. Griffin, P.E., Assistant City Manager/City Engineer ~
RE: Irrigation Line Problem / Villages of Cottonwood Creek
Date: December 21, 1995
I have reviewed the letter submitted by Steven Brown of the Jim Sowell Construction Company
and have spoken to Garreth Campbell the inspector on the project. As correctly stated in the
letter, Calhar did damage the irrigation lines and control wires as they were making their tap
for the water line for the school. Once the damage was noticed, Garreth asked "have you
notified the Homeowners Association or the owner of the irrigation system?'. Garreth was
informed by the contractor that they had already been in contact with the Landscape Maintenance
Contractor, Dave Manders Inc., who performs the work for the Villages of Cottonwood Creek
and that they would take care of repairing the damages.
The letter states that the damage took place on August 3rd, which was a Thursday, and the
repairs took place on August 7th, which was a Monday. I am unsure why there was a four day
lag for repairs. I personally have no problem with the cost associated with the repairs, however,
I'm unclear how all of the seasonal color and 130 square yards of bermuda sod was damaged
because of lack of water for a period of 4 days.
Bottom line on this issue is that we were informed that the landscape maintenance contractor had
already been informed of the damage when we questioned Calhar and I am unsure as to why
there was a four to five day lag time in the repairs to the system.
file/kgril~in/cmck.mm
Jim Sowell Company ..-- :
3131 McKinncy, Suite 200
Dallas, Texas 7/5204. - 2471
(214) 871-3320
FAX (214) 871-1620
December 18, 1995
Mr. Jim Witt
City Manager
CITY OF COPPELL
255 Parkway Boulevard
Coppell, Tx 75019
Dear Jim:
On or about the 3rd of August, 1995, we were notified by our landscape maintenance contractor
at Villages of Cottonwood Creek of a very. distressing 'and expensive occurrence. Calhar
Construction, the utility contractor at the new elementary school on Minyard Drive, had
apparently during the previous week, shut off the water main serving our subdivision irrigation
system. They then proceeded to destroy a 2 1/2 inch irrigation line and the control wires
associated with that part of the system. Our subdivision system was completely down for over
three days. We discovered the problem when a routine maintenance visit was scheduled.
We immediately dispatched a water truck to attempt to save our seasonal color plantings. I then
contacted Calhar to see why they had not contacted us about the water system being shut down
or about their planned excavation. We certainly understand their need to tie into the main on
the north side of Minyard, but their response by Mr. James Hargis onsite, an6 Mr. David
Lippert at their offices in Richardson was that they did not know who owned the property. This
is unacceptable and somewhat hard to believe. We could have staked the system locations, and
avoided ail the damage.
1 then contacted the general contractor, K A Sparks Company, and suggested that they withhold
some payment from Calhar for the damages. We presented K. A. Sparks with an invoice for
repairs as well as faxed a copy to Mr. Lippert at Calhar.
We of course, have not been' 6o/npensated for the damages. I would appreciate your
intervention in this matter, tbr I assure you the residents of Villages at Cottonwood Creek take
pride in their subdivision landscaping and do not appreciate, nor will they accept, the type of
Mr. Jim Witt
December 18, 1995
Page 2 of 2
treatment we are receiving from these contractors. I am attaching a copy of the invoice from
Dave Manders Inc. (our landscaper), and will be available to discuss the matter at your earliest
convenience.
Happy Holidays to you and your family.
Sincerely,
JIM SOWELL CONSTRUCTION CO., INC.
President
SLB/lc
AUGUST 7, 1995
STEVI~ BROWN
.llM SOWI~LL COI~IPANY
3131 MCKINNEY A¥I~NUIS., surrE 200
DALLAS, TEXAS 75204
INVOICE
VILLAOES OF COTTONWOOD CI~K. # 1
IRRIOATION AND LAI'qDSCAPE REPALRS
REPAIRS TO IRRIOA'IION SYSTEM CAUSED BY CAL-HAR CONSTRUCTION, INC. WHILE
INSTALLING WATER MAINS TO ~ NEW SCHOOL. JAMES HAROIS, A SUPERVISOR FOR CAL-
HAR, TOLD ME FIE DIDN'T KNOW WHO TO CONTACT WHEN I ASKF. I~ HIM WHY WE WERE NOT
NOTIFIED OF ~ DAMAGED WIRES AND PIPES.
MAINTENANCE SUPEI~VISOR TWO HOUR. S REPAIRING 2 !/2" MAINLINE $90.00
MAINTENANCE SUPF_.R. VISOR 'I'HRI!iE HOI_IR.S BP, lNG WATER TANKER TO
THE $ITt~. TO TRY 'ro REVIVE SEASONAL COLOR. ] 35 00
IRRIOATION TECHNICIAN TWO HOURS TO REPAIR CONTROL WIRES 80.00
480 SEASONAL COLOR TO BE REPLACED AT BOTH ENTRYS ON COPPELL RD 720,00
130 SY OF BERMUDA SOD
$1,41~.00
TAX 1.
TOTAL AMOUNT DUE $1,531.74