City approves $42,698 change order and 103‑day extension to stabilize Cane Creek Park pickleball courts

Cookeville — The Cookeville City Council on Aug. 7 approved a change order with Steelhead Building Groups totaling $42,698.15 to stabilize the pad for new pickleball courts at Cane Creek Park and granted a 103‑day extension to the project schedule.

Why it matters: The change order addresses soil and subsurface conditions identified during construction and is intended to correct the contractor’s path and allow the courts project to resume safely.

Public works staff and the project manager summarized delays and said the change order will undercut unstable material and import new, compacted fill. "This is a change order that would help us stabilize the pad, by doing some undercutting and bringing in new materials," a staff member said. The change order adds 103 days to the original contract; staff said the contractor would remobilize Aug. 21 and the project would be completed by October.

Council members praised staff coordination. "Good work at city for jumping in here and getting this job done," one council member said, and another said the city had worked hard to ensure the job is done correctly and with high quality.

Council action: A motion to approve the change order was made, seconded and passed 5‑0. The motion authorized the change order amount and contract time extension; no separate motion about funding reallocation was recorded on the transcript.

What happens next: Construction is scheduled to resume after contractor mobilization; staff will oversee stabilization work and project completion under the extended schedule. Any further contract changes would require council review.