Board approves payments and change orders for wetland, trail projects in Webster County

The Webster County Board of Supervisors approved several pay applications and one change order Aug. 26 related to conservation and trail projects, Conservation Director Matt Cosgrove told the board.

Cosgrove said the Meyer Marsh Wetland Enhancement and oxbow restoration is a partnership with the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship and that the first pay application is a reimbursement. The board approved a pay application for L. Ties LLC, doing business as Empire Excavation, for $34,763.90 for that project.

The board accepted final payment and project completion for the Gowrie Trail, approving a Howrey Construction Inc. pay application for $63,261.82. Cosgrove said a single drainage-related change order had delayed final payment until the drainage work was resolved.

For the Dayton Trail, the board approved a change order to Rash Construction Inc. for $57,624.04, which Cosgrove said was largely due to unsuitable on-site material that required hauling about $44,000 of additional fill. The board also approved Pay Application 2 to Resch Construction in the amount of $173,164.61 for Dayton Trail construction; Cosgrove said approximately $13,000 remained to close that project and that the project team expected final completion ahead of the upcoming rodeo.

Cosgrove said many of the county’s “quality of life” projects are winding down and that costs for these items are covered by grants and reimbursement programs; he said the county would seek reimbursements from granting agencies before the end of the fiscal year.

Why it matters: The actions finalize or move forward construction and conservation work paid with a mix of grant and county funds; cost increases tied to material suitability and drainage work required a change order on the Dayton Trail.

What’s next: Cosgrove said final pay applications and reimbursements will be processed as projects are completed; one remaining project is work in partnership with the city at the Central River District scheduled for October.