Commission authorizes design and oversight amendment for Shafer/30 Sixth Street roundabout

The Kentwood City Commission on Aug. 11 authorized the mayor to execute an amendment to the design contract for a roundabout at the intersection of Shafer Avenue and 30 Sixth Street and to add bridge improvements on Schafer Avenue. City staff said the amendment primarily covers design work and construction oversight and was requested because the consultant already had survey data and was performing related work in the area. A city presenter told commissioners: "The bulk of it is for the design and the construction oversight of that work. In addition, there's some bridge improvements that we added based on recommendations from Scott Civil Engineering to some of the bridges on Schafer Avenue. Those constitute the majority of the costs in this amendment." The firm named in the presentation was Prine Neuhaus. Commissioners discussed the single‑lane configuration and city history with similar roundabouts; one commissioner said the planned roundabout will be "pretty much exactly as to what we have here," referring to an existing single‑lane roundabout. The item passed by voice vote after a motion to approve. Staff described the planned roundabout as a single‑lane facility with full removal and replacement of pavement and new curbs and gutters on the project segment. No specific contract dollar amount or amended contract number was recorded in the transcript. The commission did not record any formal amendments to the motion during the meeting and no dissent was recorded.