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Parks board approves change order, forwards payout recommendation to county commissioners for Chinworth Trail project
Summary
Kosciusko Parks and Recreation Board approved a construction change order and authorized forwarding a payout recommendation to the county commissioners for the Chinworth Trail extension. The board discussed removing then partially restoring removable bollards and will hold final retainage until landscaping establishes.
The Kosciusko Parks and Recreation Board voted to approve a construction change order for the Chinworth Trail extension and recommended the contractor payout be forwarded to the Kosciusko County commissioners.
Board members discussed a set of removable bollards originally included in the project plans, agreed to reduce the quantity and keep removable (collapsible) bollards at selected, higher‑risk locations, and confirmed the county will withhold contract retainage until landscaping is established.
Board chair Matt (Kosciusko Parks and Recreation Board) told the group the change order reflects substitutions of equal or lower‑cost items that reduced the contract price by $11,200.80 from the original estimate. The change order and a related payout recommendation must be approved by the county commissioners; the board approved both items and will present them at the commissioners’ meeting.
Why it matters: the change order and payout are the final steps before the contractor receives the next scheduled payment, but the board retained leverage over final acceptance by holding back contract retainage until grass and site landscaping are established.
Board discussion and outcome Board members and staff discussed safety and maintenance tradeoffs around using bollards to keep vehicles off the trail. The original plan included 22 removable bollards (two at several street crossings and additional posts at select locations). Board members noted bicyclists can be injured on certain bollard configurations and that snow‑plow and maintenance operations affect bollard design.
After public input from nearby residents that reported seeing cars and golf carts on the trail, the board directed staff to pursue a reduced number of removable bollards installed at high‑traffic or vulnerable locations (examples discussed included the trailer‑park crossing and the trailhead near State Road 30). The board asked staff to request a pricing update from the contractor for reinstalling a smaller quantity of removable bollards; if the cost increase is small, staff will include the bollards in a second change order prior to final payout.
Contract payments and retainage Board members confirmed there remains contract retainage to be paid at project completion. Staff identified the remaining retainage amount at approximately $96,000; the board will withhold that retainage until landscaping and grass establish, and will require reseeding or remediation if the turf does not take.
Formal actions - The board voted to approve the change order and forward a recommendation to the Kosciusko County commissioners (voice vote; motion and second recorded; outcome: approved for recommendation). The minutes record a voice vote of “ayes” and no named dissent; the change order will be presented to the commissioners for final approval. - The board voted to approve forwarding the contractor payout to the commissioners (voice vote; outcome: approved for recommendation).
What’s next Staff will present the change order and payout recommendation to the Kosciusko County commissioners at their next meeting. Staff will also contact the contractor to seek a cost to reinsert a reduced number of removable bollards and will include that estimate in a follow‑up change order if feasible. The board will hold final retainage until landscaping is confirmed.
