Vermillion City Council approved a $129,847.56 change order on Oct. 20 to complete construction on North Carr Street, citing substantial unanticipated poor soils along the alignment.

City engineering staff told the council the Carr Street project was largely finished, but contractors encountered areas where a soil-cement stabilizing treatment failed to set. The largest portion of the change order'about $92,000'covered overdigging those sections, installing geotextile fabric and an oversized (3-inch) ballast rock subbase before placing gravel.

The base contract, awarded earlier, was $447,552.93; the change increases the total to $577,400.49. Staff said the additional costs will be paid by the city using STIP funds; the change will not increase the assessed amount charged to property owners because the added work covered oversized items billed to the city.

Council discussion reviewed bid history: the original base bid used a soil-cement stabilization approach, with a bid alternate for conventional overdig/rock/fabric subbase. Because the soil-cement did not perform in certain areas, staff used the alternate repair method in the affected sections; roughly two-thirds of the roadway remains soil-cement treated.

Councilor Lieber moved approval; Councilor Holland seconded. The motion passed by voice vote.

Staff noted some follow-up items that are not included in the change order, including placement of "monster blocks" along a fence line, which will be handled under a separate contract at an estimated additional $20,000'$30,000.