PORT ANGELES — City Hall may end up paying 28 percent more than previously anticipated on a fiber-optic network.
The city already uses a fiber-optic network operated by Capacity Provisioning Inc. to transfer large computer files at high speeds to various departments and buildings.
Per a contract approved one year ago by the City Council, the city agreed to pay CPI $146,241 to provide additional connections to facilities already serviced by the network to ensure that the connections cannot be lost, what city staff call “redundancy.”
Installation problems
But because of some installation problems, which include replacing a utility pole and additional underground trenching, the cost could jump as high as $187,000, the city’s Utility Advisory Committee was told Tuesday.
City staff told the committee members that the additional costs were unforeseen, with the exception of about $6,100 in additional work requested by staff to accommodate unrelated electrical conduits.
The UAC voted 3-1 to recommend that the City Council approve the change order, but not before some expressed frustration with the cost increase.
“It’s really disappointing,” said committee member Dean Reed.
Reed added that he still felt the project is worth the cost.
Councilwoman Cherie Kidd, who sits on the committee, voted no.
City staff declined to say in open session what buildings will receive the redundant connections in order to avoid exposing where the network is vulnerable.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.