Council approves $674,640 change order for Dry Fork Greenway; water main relocation drives cost

The Excelsior Springs City Council on July 21 approved Change Order No. 3 to the contract with Mega KC Corporation for the Dry Fork Greenway project, increasing the contract by $674,640.20 to a new total of $4,279,341.12.

Chad Birdsong, Public Works director, told the council the change order contains five line items: sloped paving at a reinforced concrete box for $4,905.14; a reinforced sidewalk tow wall for $10,101.30; replacement of an existing sanitary sewer encasement for $13,312.57; curb-and-gutter elevation adjustments for $1,536.74; and a water-main relocation for $644,784.45. Birdsong said the total of those items is $674,640.20.

Funding for the change order was described in detail. Birdsong said the water fund will contribute $380,000 toward the water-main relocation because the Caldwell portion is outside the original project limits. Project reserves would provide $139,640.20, and the Capital Improvements Committee allocated $155,000 earlier the same day to cover the remainder. Birdsong said the net effect leaves roughly $20,000 available for additional change orders.

Birdsong said the project team expects the Missouri DNR permit “at any time,” and that the water-main work was estimated to take about 60 days. He clarified the 60-day estimate referred to the water-main segment rather than full project completion; above-ground work and remaining tasks would continue after the water-main is complete. He and other council members discussed the routing of the water main through Caldwell Street; Birdsong said the work will require a narrow concrete trench patch (roughly a 4-foot strip) and that a full street restoration or overlay could follow in a later resurfacing program.

The council approved Resolution No. 15-92 on roll call; all members present voted yes.