Council approves Riverfront Drive change orders while staff investigates procurement and assessment discrepancies

The Mankato City Council approved multiple change orders for the Riverfront Drive reconstruction and approved corrective authorization after staff disclosed procurement and special‑assessment irregularities and said an outside review is under way.

City Manager Susan Arnds briefed the council on a sequence of late change orders and an incentive clause in the construction contract that together required council consideration. Change orders 5 through 11 initially totaled about $266,000 but, after detailed review, were identified at $210,704.50; a separate contract provision authorized up to $7,000 per early day (maximum 40 days) in incentive pay. Arnds said the contractor met contract standards and is entitled to $280,000 of incentive pay; adding that amount raised total change orders above the city manager’s 5% administrative threshold and required…