By Drew Moody
For the Hur Herald
The Gilmer County Public Service District (PSD) filed a lawsuit
this week against two contractors involved in building a water
line to the federal prison.
Stonegate Construction, Inc., of Belpre, OH, and Dunn
Engineers, Inc. of Charleston are accused of breach of contract,
negligence and fraud.
The PSD hired Dunn Engineers to plan, design and supervise
construction of the water line.
Stonegate Construction was low-bidder on the project.
Brenda Lawson of the PSD said there were numerous problems with the line,
and part of the equipment Dunn Engineers had installed was obsolete at
the time
of installation.
Apparently 20 to 30 repairs have been made in the line thus
far, including some sections being replaced.
An unidentified spokesman for Stonegate Construction called
the Hur Herald Friday afternoon and said they weren't aware the
lawsuit was filed. "We haven't been up there for five
years," the man said. Stonegate is referring the matter to
its attorneys in Charleston.
The PSD alleges Stonegate failed to perform duties
agreed to in the contract, deviated from the plans and ultimately
built a sub-standard pipeline.
Dunn is accused of failing to perform numerous obligations
including failure in the design and construction phases. The
lawsuit claims Dunn failed in its supervisory obligations, as well as
neglecting to inform the PSD the construction was substandard.
The PSD is asking for unspecified damages including money
to properly repair the water line now and in the future, as well
as consequential and punitive damages, and attorneys fees.
"I told them they were running this in a flood plain against
their own regulations," local resident Jim James said. "They've got
a problem there beyond belief. James has been following the
progress of PSD projects closely since the late 1990s, and
has often been critical of the Gilmer County Commission.
Will Crichton, of Crichton & Crichton law firm in Parkersburg, is
confident the PSD will win a judgment in court.
"We're of the opinion the line has failed and the only remedy will
be to build a new pipe," Crichton said Thursday.
The Hur Herald also attempted to contact Dunn Engineers without
success.
| 
