Cookeville council approves $10,261 change order for ADA ramp at new pickleball courts

The Cookeville City Council unanimously approved a $10,261.41 change order Thursday to Steelhead Building Group to revise the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access ramp from the parking lot to the new pickleball courts after contractors discovered site conditions that made the original plans non-compliant.

Why it matters: the change order modifies the ramp design to meet ADA requirements and adds labor, materials and other associated costs; staff said the overall project budget remains adequate.

City staff presented the change order. Mr. Woods (city project staff) said Kimley-Horn prepared a new ramp design after the contractor discovered a discrepancy between actual site conditions and the plans that would have produced a noncompliant ramp. The new design increased materials and labor costs by $10,261.41, Steelhead Building Group requested that amount as a change order, and staff recommended approval. Mr. Woods stated the original contract amount as $806,000.581 (as stated on the agenda) and said the project budget was $1,000,000.

Council discussion focused on what the additional cost covered. One council member estimated the concrete quantity and cost; Mr. Woods and others clarified the change order includes regrading the slope, concrete and labor, new handrails and painting, bond adjustments and similar items. Mr. Woods said the concrete and labor portion is approximately $3,000 and that earlier elements that would have increased the request to about $17,000 were removed after the electric department removed trees and city crews cleared stumps.

Council made and seconded the motion to approve the change order; the motion carried on a 5-0 vote.

What the council directed: no further directions or options were recorded; staff said work can proceed now that the change order is approved.