The Kennedale City Council voted unanimously on July 15 to approve Change Order No. 2 with Texas Aquashore for the T4 ground storage water tank on Caruthers Avenue to add items required after plan review by the City of Arlington, including vaulting for check valves and cathodic protection.
City project staff explained the added items are required to meet Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) requirements and to ensure proper long-term performance of the new tank. Christian (staff) told the council the additional components include vaulting for double-check valves and cathodic protection measures; council members discussed a specific cathodic protection line item of about $35,000 for piping and valve protection.
Council members asked about the project budget and timing. Staff said the original budget for the project was "just under a million" dollars and that this is the second change order. One council member observed that the project was now roughly $500,000 over the original budget; the finance director and city manager (by prior discussion) had confirmed sufficient funds are available to cover the change order.
Funding sources described to the council include previously allocated bond proceeds for capital projects, investment revenue produced by unspent capital project funds (staff said roughly $4 million of capital projects had not been spent as expected, producing approximately $172,000 in investment revenue), and water impact fees. The mayor said the city would first use bond money allocated for the project and then could rely on investment revenue in the water/sewer fund if needed.
The project timeline discussed: the contractor was finishing piping and staff expected the tank to be filled, tested and operational in early August if weather and other factors did not cause further delays. Council members noted rain-related setbacks had delayed some work.
The council approved the change order by motion and voice vote; the record shows the motion passed unanimously. Staff did not list a change-order dollar figure on the public transcript beyond the budget and approximate overage noted in discussion.
What happens next: contractor will complete piping, staff will fill and test the tank, and the city will draw funds from the bond allocation and, if necessary, the water/sewer fund investment revenue and impact fee reserves to cover the change order.