Spring Hill City Council on Thursday approved Amendment No. 4 to the professional services agreement with Brungard Hahnemichael and Company (BHC) to provide construction observation for the 190 Ninth Street improvements (Ridgeview Road to Renner Road) and approved several temporary and permanent easements needed to start construction.

Ms. Abel, the presenting staff member, said bids are expected within two weeks and the amendment covers full‑time on‑site construction observation and administration. She stated the task order for observation is $322,810 and that cost falls within the project’s previously budgeted amount for construction administration and observation. Staff’s project budget included line items from the CARS application—construction, engineering, materials testing, utility adjustments and an acquisition allowance; Ms. Abel said the easement/right‑of‑way acquisition budget of $500,000 has not been fully spent and staff expects total easement and right‑of‑way costs to land “well under” that amount.

Later in the meeting Ms. Abel provided a follow-up figure: the total purchase cost for the easements and right‑of‑way is projected to be about $235,000, which staff said is less than half of the previously programmed $500,000 allocation. The council authorized the mayor to sign easement agreements and directed the finance department to issue payments to owners as outlined in the staff report. The motions to approve the BHC amendment and the easements carried on council votes recorded as 4-0-0.

Council members asked whether the BHC task order is expected to cover the full project and staff replied it should, barring unforeseen issues. Staff also noted potential savings from a trail-in-lieu agreement with the school district that reduces city costs by approximately $6,000.