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Jackson County OKs Blue Springs sewer change order amid contractor delays, bonding warning
Summary
The county approved Change Order 5 for the Blue Springs Phase 1 sewer project, granting additional contract days and accepting a contractor-proposed completion date while authorizing staff to notify the contractor's bonding company if performance concerns persist.
Jackson County commissioners voted unanimously to approve Change Order 5 for the Blue Springs Phase 1 sewer project, authorizing the chairman to sign and accepting a contractor's proposed completion date while preserving the county's right to pursue liquidated damages or bonding remedies.
The change order reflects a series of construction delays and scope additions that county staff said amount to an overall extension of contract time. County staff outlined specific causes for schedule impacts, including replacement of old cross drains, installation of a casing under Blue Springs Road for the force main, electrical service delays for a lift station and additional shoulder construction to match a separate resurfacing project. Staff said some items were not part of the original bid and were added during construction.
Why it matters: The project repairs and upgrades sewer infrastructure and includes road work that county staff said should match state resurfacing plans. Commissioners and staff raised concerns about the contractor's pace of work, documented rain days and holidays, and whether the county should notify the contractor's bonding company because of perceived performance risk.
Contractor, schedule and warranty: The contractor who addressed the board identified specific remaining tasks: correcting a small number of sags in the gravity sewer, repairing several laterals with infiltration and completing lift station work. He said unforeseen trench conditions and groundwater slowed progress. The contractor told commissioners he would provide a five-year warranty and asked the board to accept a definitive date of Dec. 5 for substantial completion; staff emphasized that accepting the date would not waive the county's right to assess liquidated damages.
County staff also said the contract includes liquidated damages: $1,000 per day for days past substantial completion and $500 per day for days past final completion. Staff reported they have documented weekly records of contractor activity and that the project had accumulated rain days and other excused days to consider in the schedule calculation.
Board direction and next steps: Commissioners authorized staff to take further steps, including notifying the bonding company if performance did not improve. Staff said they will finalize a formal five-year construction warranty before contract closeout and continue to press the contractor to meet the agreed completion timeline. The change order passed by unanimous vote.
Ending: County staff said they will continue monitoring the project, coordinate with affected residents and pursue warranty and bonding remedies if necessary.
