STAUNTON, IL (KTVI-FOX2now.com) -
Efforts to revitalize main street in small town Staunton, Illinois hit a snag when an excavating contractor called it quits.
Business owners along the stretch of Main in Staunton had hoped to see the end of noisy construction work in front of their stores by Friday.
Now there's no clear answer as to when the water main will be installed.
An abandoned gas line seems to be the issue that forced the Moniger Excavating company to pull back and stop work. Staunton hired the firm to install about a ten block long water line along the town's main street. The cost: 450-thousand dollars.
Now the contractor has stopped work with more than half the job still to go. The question: who will pay for the extra work the budget does not cover?
Staunton mayor Fred Stein says, "their contract says work's not to be stopped during a dispute. We have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with our engineers and contractor to come to some sort of agreement."
Once the replacement water line was installed, a storm sewer rebuilt and new wiring for new street lights placed in conduit, Staunton was hoping to win some federal stimulus money to pay for the repaving of their Main Street.
The town has finally been able to set up a meeting with the excavating firm based in Madison County for Thursday night.
The construction firm has not responded to our requests for an explanation.
An abandoned gas line seems to be the issue that forced the Moniger Excavating company to pull back and stop work. Staunton hired the firm to install about a ten block long water line along the town's main street. The cost: 450-thousand dollars.
Now the contractor has stopped work with more than half the job still to go. The question: who will pay for the extra work the budget does not cover?
Staunton mayor Fred Stein says, "their contract says work's not to be stopped during a dispute. We have a meeting scheduled tomorrow with our engineers and contractor to come to some sort of agreement."
Once the replacement water line was installed, a storm sewer rebuilt and new wiring for new street lights placed in conduit, Staunton was hoping to win some federal stimulus money to pay for the repaving of their Main Street.
The town has finally been able to set up a meeting with the excavating firm based in Madison County for Thursday night.
The construction firm has not responded to our requests for an explanation.
