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DR8601-CS 860409April 9, 1986 Mr. Ed Powell, P.E. Coppell City Engineer P. O. Box 478 Coppell, Texas 75011 RE: Pilot Channel Failure in the Parkwood Subdivision Drainage Ditch, Coppell, Texas Dear Mr. Powelh I appreciate your help in placing this item on the April 22, Coppell City Council Agenda. I am writing this letter to clarify General Homes position on this matter and to provide members of the Council with a background of our previous discussions. A map of the Parkwood area is attached and the portion of the pilot channel which has failed is highlighted in red. The pilot channel improvements were constructed in April, 1984, as part of the underground utilities construction for Parkwood I subdivision. On September 12, 1984, this construction was approved by Ginn, Inc., the City's Consulting Engineer. At that time, the contractor submitted a one year Maintenance Bond as required by the City. The Maintenance Bond expired on September 12, 1985. During the one year period of the Maintenance Bond, there were no visible signs that the pilot channel was in any danger. During the week of November 25, 1985, I discussed the failure of the pilot channel with Steve Goram, Director of Public Works. He advised me to contact Ginn, Inc., which I did on December 2, 1985. I suggested meeting at the site so that we could determine some solution for the repair of the pilot channel. On December 4, Wayne Ginn asked to be notified of the time of the meeting. On December 18, I contacted Ginn, Inc., and Steve Goram to notify them that a meeting had been scheduled for December 20. Those attending that meeting were representatives from the Coppell Municipal Utility District, ("CMUD"), General Homes, Univest and Threadgill-Dowdey, engineers for General Homes. No one from either the City of Coppell or Ginn, Inc., attended this meeting. On January 6, 1986, I contacted Wayne Ginn and notified him that a meeting did take place, but that it was necessary that representatives from the City be in attendance in order to resolve this matter. Mr. Ginn suggested that we again schedule a meeting. On January 14, 1986, Frank Proctor and you were at the monthly meeting of the CMUD. I was discussing the drainage ditch failure with the CMUD board and later in the meeting Mr. Proctor stated that you were the person I needed to talk with rather than Ginn, Inc. After several attempts to contact you by phone, I wrote a letter on January 27, 1986. On January 30, 1986, I contacted you at your office after a meeting which was held with the City Manager concerning another unrelated matter. At that time you suggested that I discuss this with Ginn, Inc. 15301 Dallas Parkway, Suite 1020 / Dallas, Texas 75248 / (214) 392-9200 Mr. Ed Powell, P.E. April 4, 1986 Page 2 On February 3, 1986, I wrote another letter to Mr. Ginn asking his office to once again get involved. On February 10, 1986, I met with representatives of Oinn, Inc. at the site. To my knowledge, no significant conclusions were obtained from their office. On February 11, 1986, I received a letter from you stating that the City of Coppell had no responsibility in this matter and that you felt it was "reasonable to expect" General Homes to repair the channel. After further attempts to contact you by phone, I replied to that letter on March 3, 1986, and asked for some basis for your conclusion. In that letter I suggested that staff place this problem before the City Council. I requested a response by March 10, so that General Homes could be scheduled for the March 25 City Council meeting. I found out on March 21 that the City Manager would not allow this matter to be on the March 25 agenda because General Homes had another item on that agenda. At that time I was assured that the drainage ditch would be discussed at the April 8 meeting of the Council. On March 25, Pierce-Lundsford, engineers for the CMUD, wrote you a letter explaining that they felt the digging of a borrow area at the end of the channel may have caused this problem. (Copy of letter is attached). On April 4, I was told that the pilot channel would not be discussed until the April 22 meeting so that the new Council would not have to deal with this problem at their first meeting. It is the understanding of General Homes that after the Maintenance Bond expires, the City of Coppell is responsible for all maintenance and/or repairs which may become necessary to any of the improvements in City-accepted subdivisions. In summary: 1. The design was approved by the City of Coppell; 2. The construction was approved by the City of Coppell; 3. The Maintenance Bond has expired; 4. These improvements are the property and responsibility of the City of Coppell; 5. The City has permitted a significant physical change in the ditch outfall which has resulted in the present failure of the pilot channel. As you are aware we have been trying to develop our Parkwood III subdivision; however, the CMUD will not allow the utility contractor to commence until some solution has been achieved for repairing the pilot channel. I am sure you are aware of what delays like this can cost our company. We are dependent on the City to assume their responsibility immediately in order that we may proceed with our development. We therefore request that the City Council direct that necessary repairs be made using City forces or resources so that our development will not be delayed any further. Project Manager SK/jf Coppell City Council Members Frank Proctor, City Manager Tom Wise, Univest George Dudley, Threadgill-Dowdey & Associates Wayne Ginn, Ginn, Inc.