PEA RIDGE — Deficits in workmanship in the project prompted three of four City Council members to decline the request from the mayor for $106,484.34 to make a previously approved payment. The payment, number 15, was approved for $182,401.61, but there was only $75,617.27 left in the bond account from the Bank of the Ozarks. That amount was sent to Hutchens Construction, but left the balance requested by Mayor Jackie Crabtree.

“Don’t give them any more money,” John Cody, city councilman, said, making a motion to decline the mayor’s request to move funds from one account to another to make a payment for the Weston Street project at a special council meeting Tuesday morning.

A clause in the contract allows the city to withhold or revoke payment for several circumstances, including defective work, according to city attorney Howard Slinkard.

The mayor told the council the reason the bond money is less than the amount needed was extra expenses for inspections, engineers and surveying.

Slinkard said the construction company has been put on notice about defective work and are discussing the issues.

News, Pages 1 on 02/10/2010