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Dispute between Omaha City Council and construction company heats up before final vote

The Omaha City Council and Hawkins Construction are at odds over a budget dispute.

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QUANECIA THERE’S A BATTLE BETWEEN THE OMAHA CITY COUNCIL AND HAWKINS CONSTRUCTION, AND IT CENTERS AROUND A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT. THE DEAL TO EXPAND THE PAPILLION CREEK WASTEWATER TREATMENT FACILITY WAS APPROVED BY COUNCIL MEMBERS A FEW YEARS AGO. IT COMES WITH A $411 MILLION PRICE TAG. HOWEVER, THE ORIGINAL BUDGET WAS 350 MILLION. THE PRESIDENT OF HAWKINS CONSTRUCTION SAYS THE CURRENT CONTRACT IS FAR FROM INDUSTRY STANDARD. THAT LEVEL OF COST INCREASE IS NOT EXPLAINABLE BY INFLATION. THE ONLY EXPLANATION FOR THAT INCREASE IS THE FAILURE IN PROCESS AND THE CITY’S WILLINGNES

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The Omaha City Council and Hawkins Construction Company are at odds over a multi-billion-dollar contract.The city council awarded the deal to expand the Papillion Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility to Hawkins Construction a few years ago.The original deal put the price tag of the construction project at $350 million. Now, the price tag, according to Hawkins, is at $411 million. “That level of cost increase is not explainable by basic inflation. The only explanation for that increase is the failure in process and the city’s willingness to accept costs that are grossly unnecessary to build this job,” said the president of Hawkins Construction, Chris Hawkins.Despite Hawkins’ allegations, the city says everything was done by the book.A final vote from the Omaha City Council is expected on Tuesday, March 10.Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

The Omaha City Council and Hawkins Construction Company are at odds over a multi-billion-dollar contract.

The city council awarded the deal to expand the Papillion Creek Wastewater Treatment Facility to Hawkins Construction a few years ago.

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The original deal put the price tag of the construction project at $350 million. Now, the price tag, according to Hawkins, is at $411 million.

“That level of cost increase is not explainable by basic inflation. The only explanation for that increase is the failure in process and the city’s willingness to accept costs that are grossly unnecessary to build this job,” said the president of Hawkins Construction, Chris Hawkins.

Despite Hawkins’ allegations, the city says everything was done by the book.

A final vote from the Omaha City Council is expected on Tuesday, March 10.

Make sure you can always see the latest news, weather, sports and more from KETV NewsWatch 7 on Google search.

NAVIGATE: Home | Weather | Local News | National | Sports | Newscasts on demand |

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Omaha, US
7:04 am, Mar 19, 2026
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