District files suit over sidewalks at high school

The Boundary County School District started legal proceedings last year against Walker Construction and Longwell and Trapp Architects, according to BCSD Superintendent Richard Conley. 

Conley released information in a press release Thursday about the suit.

He said the suit has been filed to recover the costs incurred by the district to repair and replace the majority of the sidewalks at the Bonners Ferry High School. The original sidewalks were part of the construction of the High School Project in 2004 by Walker Construction, according to Conley. 

Longwell and Trapp Architects designed and administered the construction of the high school project.

In 2010, BCSD entered into a contract with Wm. Winkler Company for the repair and replacement of the damaged sidewalks, and the repair project was completed in the summer 2010. 

Conley stated BCSD initially filed suit in Boundary County District Court against Walker Construction and Longwell and Trapp Architects. 

BCSD contracts with these companies contain binding arbitration provisions, so the case has since been removed to private arbitration. 

Conley said BCSD attempted to resolve its claims with Walker Construction and Longwell and Trapp Architects both informally and through mediation prior to filing suit.

Walker Construction has asserted claims against two of the subcontractors that performed work on the high school project, Nelson Landscape and Lee’s Electric.  Longwell and Trapp Architects also made claims against one of its consultants, Hatchmueller, P.C., according to Conley.

The final arbitration hearing will be held in June 2012.