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Stafford council approves amendment to professional services contract for long‑planned drainage project
Summary
The Stafford City Council approved an amendment to its professional services contract with Jones Engineering to move forward with a multi‑section drainage project financed by the Economic Development Corporation; the council vote followed staff and EDC comments urging speed to avoid cost escalation.
Stafford — The City Council on May 7 voted to approve an amendment to an existing professional services contract with Jones Engineering to advance design work on a multi‑section drainage project previously authorized by the Stafford Economic Development Corporation (EDC).
Council discussion focused on whether the work should proceed under an amendment to the current city engineer’s contract or be recompeted; staff and EDC representatives told council that a committee review recommended proceeding with Jones Engineering for efficiency and cost reasons. “Approving of this amendment to the current professional services contract with Jones Engineering is the way that our group recommended,” a staff representative said during the meeting.
The drainage work is part of a $7,000,000 EDC‑funded project the council and EDC adopted in 2023. Staff described the work as multiple, staged improvements to existing drainage channels, including enlarging channels, installing box or pipe culverts, concrete lining in some reaches and, in places, excavating additional capacity or storage. A public works staff member said the work will proceed “from upstream to downstream” and that timing is important because the contractor will disturb existing channels and must avoid construction during rain events.
Randy Kron, president of the EDC, told the council the EDC board had expected the project to be moving and pressed the council to proceed. “The longer we delay it, the more it’s gonna cost us,” Kron said, noting the EDC has encumbered funds and expected the city to move forward.
After brief public comment and an offer from staff to update the EDC at future meetings, a councilmember moved to approve the amendment “as presented.” A second was recorded on the meeting audio and the mayor declared the motion passed with no recorded opposition.
The council and staff said further design work, preliminary estimates and eventual contract award remain to be completed before construction starts. Staff said the design phase has not concluded and that the amendment covers work required to determine the final design the contractor will build.
No detailed vote tally by member name was provided in the minutes; the meeting record shows the motion passed and the council recorded no opposing votes.
The council also recorded that an executive session occurred earlier in the meeting and that no action from that session was required at the time the council returned to open session.
