Denver Water has hired a forensic auditing firm and independent construction expert to review the $48 million in contracts and construction for three major projects.
Former utility employees have said that contract payments for work at the Foothills Water Treatment Plant and the Roxborough and Capitol Hill pump stations were improperly handled.
Denver Water officials said there were issues with some of the invoices filed, such as a $16,000 bill for a contractor’s Christmas party and $525 for a golf tournament fee. In another case, utility managers negotiated a $238,000 reduction in a concrete bill.
“Denver Water reviewed every issue that arose and we made changes when problems were identified,” said Denver Water manager Chips Barry.
The utility has hired BKD LLP, one of the country’s largest accounting firms, and a real estate, construction and management firm to review contracts, invoices and materials turned in by the contractor.
