Fairhope Council reviews waterfront drainage change order, project selections and several contract clarifications

City staff used the April 8 work session to brief the council on several capital projects, contract clarifications and subscription items the council will consider at its regular meeting, and to request direction on a handful of items that need more information before final approval.

Richard Johnson (city staff) described a recommended change order related to the Working Waterfront project: during construction crews discovered a corroded corrugated metal drainage conduit that runs from the bluff to the seawall and contributes to sinkhole and erosion risk. Johnson said engineers prepared repair plans and the city sought contractor pricing; staff recommended completing the drainage repairs now rather than returning later for an isolated repair.

“It would be bad decision making to not fix this while we have a contractor there,” Johnson told council members, citing a prior, similar project that cost about $275,000 and noting the overall waterfront project budget is in the millions.

Nut graf: The change-order request was framed…