City staff told the Smithville Board of Aldermen that Legacy Underground, the contractor for a MoDOT-administered commercial sidewalk project, has informed the city it is shutting down and will not complete the work.

"They just sent me an official letter, so it's very official," said Myra, a city staff member handling the commercial sidewalk project. City administrators said they have been in contact with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), the project's bond company and the school district to determine next steps and that a meeting with state officials and the contractor was scheduled for the following day.

The project is funded through the Federal Highway Administration with MoDOT administering the project, the city said. The city explained that if the next-lowest bidder, Amino Brothers, agrees to take over the job at the price they submitted last year, the bond company would be responsible for the difference; staff called that the ideal outcome. Myra said Amino Brothers was reviewing the information and the city awaited the company's decision.

Staff emphasized that the project is subject to state rules because MoDOT is administering it. "We have to work it's like if it was their project, so we have to follow their rules," the city administrator said.

Discussion vs. decision: the meeting record shows staff reported the contractor’s shutdown and described coordination with MoDOT and other stakeholders; the board did not take a formal vote on the sidewalk item during this session.

Staff said they would provide updates once the state meeting and contractor responses are complete.