Olive Branch approves series of road, striping and park construction change orders; closes multiple projects

The Olive Branch board on Oct. 7 approved a package of final change orders and contractor closeouts covering road preservation, overlays, striping, water and gas improvements, and a new pickleball facility, authorizing final payments and several additional service agreements.

City staff presented a series of items that closed earlier-year contracts and authorized follow-up work. Mister Swims, presenting the roadway preservation and overlay items, said the city ran under some contract line items and recommended deductive change orders where work came in below estimates; in other contracts, fuel and scope adjustments led to modest increases.

The board approved a $109,776.71 deductive change order on the Vance Brothers Inc. contract, lowering that contract from $1,086,980.29 to $977,203.58 and accepting the preservation-treatment project as complete. Motion to approve was made by Mister Dixon and seconded by Mister Wallace; the motion carried.

The board approved final closeout on two Lehman Roberts Company contracts: an additive change order of $16,475.32 (increasing that contract from $1,261,289 to $1,277,764.32) and authorization of a final payment of $91,048.78 for annual full-depth reclamation and asphalt overlays; and a deductive change order of $407,237.19 (decreasing a separate Lehman Roberts contract from $2,231,103.50 to $1,823,866.31) and authorization of a final payment of $530,992.40 for annual surface treatments. Mister Earhart moved the first Lehman Roberts item; Mister Wallace moved the larger deductive closeout; both motions passed.

The board approved a $214,987.32 additive change order for Riverside Traffic Systems Inc., raising that contract from $609,151.59 to $824,138.91, and accepted final payment including retainage of $267,440.75 for annual striping and pavement markings. Mister Collins moved the item and Miss Hamilton seconded; the motion carried.

For the Dollar Branch City Park project, the board approved change order No. 1 with Alexander Construction LLC in the additive amount of $32,690.75 (increasing that contract to $1,001,598.38) to address an unexpectedly mislocated manhole and associated sewer work to serve restrooms at the new pickleball courts. The motion was made by Mister Wallace and seconded by Miss Aldridge; it passed.

The board approved change order No. 3 with Argo Construction Corporation in the additive amount of $18,525 for Maywood gas and water improvements, covering added encased water line work and relocation of meters. The motion was made by Mister Earhart and seconded by Miss Hamilton; it passed.

The board also approved a professional services agreement with Cruise Engineering and Consulting LLC not to exceed $310,000 for design, survey, construction engineering, inspection and permitting for the gas system upgrade on Center Hill Road Phase 2. Mister Collins moved and Mister Wallace seconded; the motion carried.

All items were approved by voice vote with the board saying "Aye." No individual roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript.

Board members noted that five of eight new-business items that evening concerned pavement and street work, and the mayor observed the actions reflected a commitment to maintaining city streets and infrastructure.