Public Works committee approves multiple stormwater, road and facility contracts including $542,031 change order at Sugar Creek site

The Public Works and Engineering Services Committee approved multiple construction and professional services contracts covering stormwater rehabilitation, roadway resurfacing and building systems, including a sizeable change order at the Sugar Creek booster station.

Mr. Gordon, Public Works staff, told the committee that an unexpected condition at the Sugar Creek booster station site required relocating a septic drain field, upsizing the system for current fire-department occupancy, removing contaminated soil and clearing a new site. He said the work led to a change order “that is, dollars 542,000, dollars 31.25.” Staff recommended approval and the committee moved the item forward.

Committee members approved a TriScapes contract for Lakeside Park green-infrastructure improvements totaling $476,404.70, about 50% of which staff said will be reimbursed through an EPA Section 319 grant. The project rehabilitates three existing bioretention systems, constructs a new bioretention area next to the parking lot and installs a permeable trail; the contractor will have 135 days to complete the work.

Other stormwater and wastewater items approved include a $283,884 contract with Cajun Construction for UV lining of corrugated metal storm drain pipe (13,68 linear feet across multiple locations) funded from SPLOST 23–28, and a separate $18,250 design contract with Southern Civil Solutions for a Marshall Place storm-drain UV lining project.

Public Works also approved professional design work and repairs across utilities and roads: a $79,400 design contract with Blue Water Engineering for Mill Branch culvert replacement after a hydraulic analysis found two 72‑inch culverts undersized for a 25‑year storm; a $72,930 independent-contractor agreement for bar‑screen repairs at Little River and Reek Creek wastewater plants; and a rejected bid for the Crawford Creek generator (staff had budgeted $250,000; the bid came in at $466,000 and staff recommended rebid).

The committee approved a $689,722 preliminary-through-final design contract with Pond & Company for the Clary Cut Road–Old Union Road tier‑2 project and accepted multiple resurfacing and rehabilitation contracts: a $737,459.50 bid award to Southern Asphalt for Wildwood Park resurfacing and a $3,241,864.42 contract with Beams Contracting for multiple Fort Eisenhower road rehabilitations to be reimbursed by the base, plus other TABT- and SPLOST‑funded projects. A $702,241.18 purchase of a video wall and workstations for the new Building A traffic control center was approved to be paid from 2024 PFA bonds.

Committee discussion touched on timelines and funding. Jacob Center, preconstruction staff, explained Fort Eisenhower reimburses work as federal funding becomes available; the base provides a portion up front and reimburses the county as projects are completed. On the Crawford Creek generator, staff said they will seek options to meet the originally budgeted amount.

All listed items were moved, seconded and carried as part of the committee’s consent/debate agenda. Specific roll-call vote tallies were not read into the transcript.