Council approves budget amendment, adds Dudley project to CIP and OKs Wingate Pump Station contract

The Orange Park Town Council voted unanimously Tuesday to amend the fiscal-year 2024–25 budget, add the Dudley branch project to the town's five-year capital improvement plan and approve construction contracts for the Wingate Drive pump station improvements.

At second reading the ordinance to amend the fiscal-year budget was adopted 5-0; the town clerk read the title as "an ordinance amending ordinance 10-24, which adopted and enacted the final budget of estimated revenues and expenditures and made appropriations for the fiscal year beginning 10/01/2024 and ending 09/30/2025." The council then approved a resolution to amend the five-year CIP, specifically adding the Dudley branch project, by the same 5-0 vote.

Council then considered the Wingate Drive Pump Station Improvements Project. The council approved an agreement with PBM Constructors in the amount of $650,000 for construction of the Wingate pump station improvements; council members amended the motion to require the town attorney's review before execution. Public Works Director Kyle Coacher explained that the engineer's estimate had been lower and that the contract contains a 20 percent contingency to cover unforeseen field conditions such as groundwater or unexpected wet-well depth. Coacher also said the town can reduce some contractor line items by purchasing certain equipment directly through continuing-statewide contracts.

Town staff also requested and the council approved a work order with CMT for construction engineering, administration and inspection services in the amount of $52,400. Coacher said the town has previously budgeted inspection/CEI work separately and that the requested amount is to align project accounting for construction-phase services.

Councilmember review: Councilmember Hodges (speaking as council's legal reviewer during discussion) said she had only "skimmed" the contract and requested the authority to finalize approval subject to the town attorney's changes; she flagged that the insurance certificate did not list the town as an additional insured and asked to approve the PBM agreement pending attorney changes. The amendment to condition execution on attorney review passed 5-0.

The council also discussed a separate billing matter raised earlier in the meeting: the police department's red-light camera vendor began invoicing the town for certified mailings that historically were not billed; the town paid a January invoice of $1,746 and town staff said they had told the vendor they would not pay retroactive amounts prior to January.

Votes at a glance: ordinance amending FY 24-25 budget — passed 5-0; resolution amending five-year CIP (adds Dudley branch) — passed 5-0; PBM Constructors contract ($650,000) — approved 5-0 pending town attorney review; CMT work order ($52,400) — approved 5-0.