Board approves multiple water‑plant change orders, including insertion valve and repairs; contingency remains positive

The Village Board approved a set of contractor change orders for upgrades at the village water treatment plant after Delaware Engineering reviewed contingency charges and recommended discrete repairs and additions.

Anne Emanthus of Delaware Engineering explained the project’s contingency accounting and presented separate contractor proposals for several items. She said the construction contingency began at $100,000, but design credits and accepted changes had so far left the project with an available contingency “of about $180,000” compared with the $100,000 starting allowance. The board then considered four distinct contractor proposals.

First, the board approved replacement and additional electrically actuated valves discovered in the field. Anne said the item would add $11,213 to the contract; the contractors had searched for compliant vendors and reported limited availability for American Iron and Steel (AIS) requirements.

Second, trustees agreed to a contractor proposal to address a structural void discovered under a newly poured slab adjacent to the barn building at the plant. The contractor recommended a polyurethane injection to fill the void rather than breaking out the slab; the proposal price the board approved was $9,545. Anne said the void resulted from preexisting site drainage and a collapsed drain that has been replaced as part of the project scope.

Third, the board approved an above‑grade air‑valve replacement on the exterior of the plant needed to restore an essential back‑pressure/scour function for the media backwash system. The replacement and labor were presented at $9,788 to restore reliable operation and maintain a warranty.

Finally, the board approved installing an insertion (hydro‑stop) valve on the 16‑inch ductile iron main that serves distribution into the village. Anne explained the board had previously removed a 16‑inch gate valve from the scope but recommended reinstating it because an alternate existing valve is seized and a field repair would have been temporary. The approved price for the insertion valve was $49,566. Trustees described the expense as prudent “insurance” given prior losses from a line failure and the operational value of isolating pipeline sections during future leaks.

Trustees asked how the approvals would affect the project contingency. Anne said approving the yellow‑highlighted items on the contingency tracking sheet would consume the current budget “benefit” and bring the contingency back toward its original level but would not put the project into deficit. Board members noted the items were either repair (preexisting conditions) or operational necessities and that fabrication for the insertion valve could take 2–3 months; staff will schedule fabrication and installation to avoid critical‑path impacts.

Separately, engineers briefed trustees on the Bylerville pump station’s older control panel and short‑cycle pump operation; staff said they were seeking additional budgetary estimates for a replacement duplex control panel and had a preliminary vendor estimate near $50,000. Engineers described the short‑cycle problem as corrected by repairs to the air system but said replacement of the panel would be prudent to protect new pumps and motors.

The board voted in favor of each change order on motions made and seconded in the meeting; votes were recorded by voice as approved.