Select Board approves $16,500 change order for Main Street retaining wall after geogrid added

The Skowhegan Select Board on Oct. 14 approved a $16,500 change order to Central Maine Septic to complete additional work on the Main Street retaining wall after engineered plans called for geogrid reinforcement.

The board heard that original bid documents and pre‑bid engineering indicated geogrid would not be required, and all bidders priced the project without it. During construction the engineer’s final plan—delivered when block was arriving on site—showed geogrid and additional excavation were necessary. That revision increased material and labor needs, and the contractor submitted a change‑order request for $16,500.

A board member noted that Central Maine Septic’s original bid was the low bid and that all bidders had bid without assuming geogrid. Staff confirmed the change order represents additional, already‑completed work and must be paid. The board approved the change order, authorizing the expenditure from the town’s paving reserve account. The motion carried, 5‑0.

Why it matters: The change order covers work already done to stabilize the wall and prevents future structural issues by tying the block into the bank with geogrid—material that extends back into the soil to reinforce the wall. Staff said incorporating the geogrid required more excavation and labor than initially estimated.

A select board member also raised an auditing concern: agendas used for auditors sometimes lack packet details, so staff added the dollar amount and the reserve account on the motion to maintain transparency for auditing.

The board authorized the change order and directed staff to ensure proper accounting and documentation for the expenditure.