Saint Paul Park council approves $6,296 change order for Third Street reconstruction

SAINT PAUL PARK, Minn. — The Saint Paul Park City Council on Aug. 4 approved Change Order No. 1 for the Third Street reconstruction project, increasing the construction contract by $6,296.40, a council agenda item presented by Morgan Dolly of engineering consultant WSB.

The change order was described by Morgan Dolly as largely formal because the project is state-funded. “So with the relatively small amount, $6,200 in relation to the overall contract amount over $7,100,000, it's just the formality of the state funding,” Dolly said. The presenter said the change order includes three primary items: adding surmountable curb at some commercial driveways, enhanced traffic control for an all‑season detour, and salvaging a pole that holds a flashing red light at Third and Broadway while public works evaluates relocation options.

Why it matters: the Third Street project is a state-funded reconstruction with an original contract of $7,151,900.26; the change order increases the contract to $7,158,196.66 and documents negotiated, early-construction adjustments that the presenter said are required under state funding rules.

Council discussion focused on project funding and the future of the intersection signal. Mayor Franke asked whether the change keeps the project within budget. Dolly replied, “Absolutely. This is and all 3 of these items are funded, through either the grant or stated funds. So we're not, proposing that any of these changes would be, funded by city dollars.”

On the flashing light pole at Third and Broadway, Dolly said public works will remove and salvage the existing pole now and perform a later evaluation of options, which could include reinstallation at a different corner or upgrading to a different flashing-LED system for the stop signs. He described the existing pole location as “kinda congested” with other utility poles and said replacement parts are hard to obtain.

Formal action: Mayor Franke moved approval of Change Order No. 1 and the motion passed unanimously, recorded in the meeting as “motion carries four-zero.” The council did not adopt any separate policy change; the action was a contract amendment for the construction contractor.

Discussion (not action): staff said the enhanced detour signage will be more permanent (posts pounded in place) so detour routing remains in place through the winter and the life of the project. Public works will report back after its evaluation whether the flashing light will be reinstalled, relocated, or replaced with alternate warning devices.

Contract and funding details: the net contract increase is $6,296.40, raising the contract from $7,151,900.26 to $7,158,196.66. Meeting presenters stated the added costs are covered by the project’s grant or state funds; no city funds were identified in the meeting as funding these three items.

The action before the council was described in the meeting as: “to consider, approval of change order number 1.”