Public Works committee approves change order for wastewater plant, refers to finance

The Washington County Public Works Committee on April 2025 voted to forward Change Order No. 8 for the county wastewater treatment plant concrete contract to the county finance committee, increasing the contract by $3,243.25, Sewer District staff reported.

The change order covers three items related to the finishing stage of a major upgrade at the plant, the Sewer District staff said. "The short item is the waste water treatment plant concrete, contract changing order number 8," the staff member said. The presentation listed higher-than-expected sludge removal costs for digesters, a reduction in cost for repairs to one digester, and the replacement of a concrete staircase that has been taped off as a safety hazard.

Sewer District staff cited a sludge-removal charge described in the meeting as "22,000 a hundred and $51.25" and said one repaired digester cost $50,484 less than estimated; the staff also described a staircase replacement priced in the handout as roughly $31,505.76. The presentation concluded that the net increase to the contract is $3,243.25. "It's basically an increase of the contract amount of $3,243.25," the staff member said.

Committee member Evans moved to refer the change order to the finance committee; the motion was seconded by Sue and Platts and approved by voice vote. The committee recorded the result as "Aye" with no opposition and carried the motion.

The Sewer District staff said the contract has been adjusted multiple times during the multi-year project and that the change order is intended to finish the upgrade and address an immediate safety hazard at the preliminary treatment building.

The item will next appear before the finance committee and then the full Board of Supervisors as required for budget or contract adjustments.