County approves $643,045 change order for SR-82 sewer extension after fiber relocation

The Lorain County Board of Commissioners approved a $643,045.15 increase to the contract total for the State Route 82 sewer extension Phase 1 in Columbia Township, raising the project funding total to about $22.805 million. County staff described the change orders as a response to utility coordination issues that required moving sewer infrastructure under pavement rather than beside utility poles.

Sanitary engineer staff explained that the original plan placed pipe outside the pavement next to power poles. After construction started, FirstEnergy refused to allow the project to work adjacent to poles; the county had previously paid FirstEnergy to hold poles but the utility subsequently declined. That change forced excavation under pavement, which requires premium backfill and pavement repair costs, the sanitary engineer said.

Commissioners and staff discussed the timing pressure created by an adjacent Del Webb development and noted that, had the change been known pre-bid, the county likely would have rebid the project. Commissioners approved the increase by voice vote.

The board directed staff to continue coordination with utilities and noted the additional costs were recorded as change orders within the existing contract documents. No litigation or cost-recovery outcome with the utility was reported at the meeting; staff said the county would pursue internal options as appropriate.