Sussex County accepts final balancing credit, closes airport obstruction removal contract

Sussex County Council voted Aug. 12 to approve a final balancing change order for the county’s aeronautical obstruction removal project and to grant project closeout after a June 30, 2025, substantial completion date.

Mark Parker, assistant county engineer, told the council the project supported the airport obstacle action plan and a planned runway extension. The final change order reflected quantity adjustments based on field‑measured tree removal areas; a small credit from the contractor for partial timber harvest value produced a net reduction of $869.39 from the contract amount.

“Shout out to our contractor, Strobert Tree Services, who did a great job and they were really a good partner to work with throughout the entire project,” Parker said. He said the project removed nearly 29 acres of tree stand in just over 30 days with environmental constraints and high temperatures during work.

The motion approved reads in part: the final balancing change order for contract 2526 (aeronautical obstruction removal) is approved, decreasing the contract amount by $869.39, and project closeout is granted with substantial completion occurring on 06/30/2025 and retainage release in accordance with contract provisions. The motion carried unanimously on voice vote.

Parker said final site restoration activities continued after substantial completion and that a map in the council packet compared bid‑anticipated tree removal areas with GPS‑measured removal areas; overall removed area was close to the original bid quantities.

No additional funding or follow‑up motions were made during the meeting; the council approved the single contract closeout motion as described.