At a recent Pleasant Hill City Council meeting, Mason Smith from SMICO Contracting addressed the council and the public regarding significant delays in the completion of the Timber Street pump station upgrade. Smith offered a formal apology on behalf of the contracting group, admitting that both the project timeline and the request for an extension had not been properly handled.
“We are working on the Timber Street pump station,” Smith began, “and I want to sincerely apologize that this project has not been completed in a timely manner. The request for an extension was also not made in a timely manner, and that is on us.”
Smith explained that the original notice to proceed was signed on July 23, 2024, with work set to begin on August 7. Critical parts for the job—including the pumps, flow meter, and variable frequency drive (VFD)—were not submitted by the supplier, Hannes, until October 11. These were then reviewed by All State Engineering on October 21.
According to Smith, it took approximately five months—around 150 days—out of the allotted 270-day contract period for the pumps to arrive. Once on-site, the team began work immediately, but further progress was delayed due to a wait on essential pipe fittings. Some of those fittings, specifically the double rubber expansion joints required to begin pump installation, were backordered and did not arrive until April 17, 2025.
Tony, a representative from the city staff, confirmed SMICO had been actively working behind the station as much as possible during the wait. Smith emphasized, “We built everything we could. But without those expansion joints—key components that connect directly to the pumps—we simply couldn’t move forward.”
The delay was compounded by the fact that this is an AIS (American Iron and Steel) project, meaning all critical components must be American-made. “These American-made parts take much longer to come in,” Smith said, adding that the expansion joints were delayed multiple times by the manufacturer. “Tony and I called and emailed the supplier constantly. They were backordered again and again.”
The piping submittals were reviewed in August, with the order placed in late September. But due to supply chain challenges, the final fitting needed to fully resume work didn’t arrive until April.
Now that all the parts are in, work resumed April 21, and Smith said the team has not stopped since. He is requesting a 60-day extension to the project, retroactive to April 23. “That gives us cushion for any unforeseen issues, but I believe we can finish in 30 days if everything goes smoothly,” he told the council. He estimated the new pumps and primary equipment could be fully operational within two to three weeks.
In response to council questions, Smith confirmed that all necessary parts are now on-site. The only remaining work after startup will involve removing the old pumps, pouring new concrete pedestals, painting, and completing final upgrades.
The council took Smith’s request under advisement and stated they would confer with city staff and deliver a decision later in the week. Council members thanked Smith for the update and stressed the importance of regular communication moving forward.
The Timber Street pump station is a critical piece of Pleasant Hill’s water infrastructure. While the delays have caused understandable frustration, the city and the contractor now appear aligned in working toward a swift and successful completion.
