Posted 5/9/01 Harris officials will meet with contractor over fire hall payment By Danielle Strenke Harris City Engineer Steve Thatcher recommended to the council that they meet with EnComm to resolve the issue of non-payment of a final bill for construction of the fire hall. At its regular meeting Monday, the council and Mayor Richard Hanson received correspondence from EnCommís law firm in reference to $15,000 that the city is withholding on the project. The fire hall project was completed last year, although since that time the city has found numerous items in need of repair. In an inspection performed in March, the city and Thatcher found 10 items in need of attention, which they said fall under warranty with EnComm. Once these items are complete, however, it is uncertain whether EnComm will receive the final payment. The money was originally withheld when they failed to complete the project and punch list items by the deadline. Thatcher said they have not received any correspondence regarding the fire hall punch list. After it was sent, EnCommís only response was to send a letter requesting final payment. The next correspondence the city received was April 20, when EnCommís lawyers sent a letter to ask for a meeting with Thatcher, Mayor Hanson, and representatives of the council. ìItís not a big thing to make these corrections, I donít know why theyíre dragging their feet,î Councilman Dan Walton said. ìItís been one thing after another,î Councilman Lyle Holmstrom added. The council tentatively set the meeting for next week, providing City Attorney Barry Blomquist can be present. ìNot being in this from the start, itís not hard to see some of the workmanship is not up to par,î Mayor Hanson said. ©Post Review