The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors heard a status report on the Deep Lakes Park campground project on Jan. 2, 2025, and learned that the board signed a notice of award to Triple B Construction for the project, with the contract amount reported as $940,162.50. County staff said the notice of award covers the campground construction package that includes septic work, the shower house, campground electrical and water distribution; the campground well was bid and contracted separately.

The board discussed a bid alternate for pavement. Board members said the engineer’s recommendation favored asphalt because of sandy soils and flexibility concerns, while the board majority had earlier indicated a preference for concrete. Staff reported a bid-alternate accounting that made concrete about $99,000 more expensive than asphalt. Board members asked that Bolton & Menk, the design engineer on the project, lead a discussion explaining the recommended pavement type and the trade-offs before the board signs final contracts.

The issue matters because the pavement choice affects long-term maintenance and initial costs on soils the board described as sandy and potentially flexible. Supervisors asked whether contractor suggestions to reduce costs would be allowed after award and urged the use of design-engineer oversight and standard change‑order procedures if scope or materials are adjusted.

County staff said inspection and density/slope testing would be required and that the design engineer will provide some inspection at scheduled times. Board members suggested bringing additional county staff, including the county engineer, to monitor critical stages of base and subbase preparation.

The board indicated it expects to finalize contract documents at a forthcoming meeting (staff mentioned a planned Friday meeting on Jan. 10) and said any suggested contractor-initiated cost savings would be weighed through the amendment/change-order process with approval by the design engineer.