Common Council Approves Claims; Member Seeks Clarification on $52,892.80 Wallace Construction Change Order

The Mark McMillan Common Council approved the claims docket on Aug. 11, including a $52,892.80 change order for Wallace Construction tied to a parking-lot project; a council member asked staff to clarify which fund will carry that additional cost.

During the meeting a council member questioned the purpose and funding of a $52,892.80 change order for Wallace Construction. Staff explained the change order covered additional excavation — "we had to remove 55 60 loads of dirt to get the right pitch to where it would drain" — and said this work had not been anticipated in the original bid. The council member asked whether the parking lot was paid for by the RDC; staff responded "Yes, ma'am," but then said they would provide clarification on which line item is covering the change order.

Why it matters: A nearly $53,000 change order can alter project budgets and the use of RDC or other public funds, and council members requested clarity on the funding source before treating it as routine.

Details and outcome: The council approved the claims after brief discussion. A council member said she would follow up to find the specific budget detail and staff said they would provide clarification later. The meeting record shows the motion to approve claims carried.

Other administrative items: The council also recorded brief acknowledgments (for example, thanks to the sanitation department and a police-station dedication) and noted the next meeting date; a speaker requested executive-session dates for a separate real-estate matter and said they would supply dates to the council.

Ending: Council voted to approve the claims; staff committed to supply detail about the Wallace change order funding.