The engineering firm which has helped the city of Logan for many years approached the Man Town Council in July with an offer to assist on the town's water problems.

Water department supervisor Dwayne Mounts had told the council that Dunn Engineering was the only firm to submit an offer to work on the water lines, which are old and filled with leaks, costing the town money. Last month, Mounts said Dunn could possibly come up with a repair project and even find grant funding for it.

Wayne Hypes and Marshall Snedegar from Dunn Engineering had some good news for the town. Both have been talking for some time with Mounts and said that they could indeed come up with a repair plan and find funding for it.

"All we have done for the past 34 years is water and sewage projects," said Snedegar, noting that Dunn has done more water and sewage plants and installed more pipelines than any other engineering firm in the state.

Hypes pointed out that Dunn is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and has experienced staff on hand when situations arise to deal with them. Hypes noted that Dunn works well together with municipal employees and has a representative (often himself) to attend municipal council meetings to update council members and water and sanitation boards about progress on projects.

Snedegar said bureaucracy is a part of major public works — it takes about 60 different steps to complete a project — and that Dunn will handle all of them. The engineering firm has found funding for 110 projects over the years as well.

"Our record for getting projects funded is perfect. Of our last 25 projects, 24 came in under budget," Snedegar said. "The one that was over budget was because of the $4 a gallon gasoline price spike."

Wayne Hypes said Dunn Engineering employees have decades of experience and an intense knowledge and understanding of the business and governmental process. Hypes said Dunn is known locally. In addition to projects in Logan, Dunn is working on its 9th project for the town of Oceana in the past decade.

Hypes and Snedegar discussed potential sources of funding or the water line repairs.

"Finding funding for your project will be our first job," Hypes said.

Mayor Jim Blevins and council members asked if the town would have to come up with local matching funds and Hypes noted that in the past, Dunn has been able to find those funds for municipalities thanks to help from the Region II Development Authority. Hypes said Dunn has been looking at Man's situation for some time and that there is funding available for water-infrastructure overhauls and that Dunn would get as much funding as possible for the project.

Hypes noted Dunn does not lay off inspectors on it's staff between projects but keeps them in the field which ensures that engineering plans are followed closely, eliminating many potential problems.

"We believe that gives you a better end produce," Hypes said.

Snedegar said Dunn would put together a contract for the town to look over.

"We look forward to working together with you in the future," Mayor Blevins said.