Redevelopment commission approves change orders, repairs for Hammond Sportsplex

The Hammond City Redevelopment Commission on Sept. 16 approved two change orders for the Hammond Sportsplex renovation and expansion project: a $52,507 authorization covering turf aggregate, championship volleyball sleeves and related adjustments, and a separate roughly $5,000 change order for floor repairs and concession-area finishes.

The changes came during an update from project staff and the city engineer as the commission moved the project toward its expected completion in November. Staff said the larger change order resolves a dispute over whether turf aggregate was included in the contractor's scope; installing the aggregate as part of the change order adds about $30,000 in cost, with the contractor contributing roughly $12,000, staff said. The package also includes installation of championship volleyball sleeves and a value-engineered decision not to remove some existing concrete, which staff estimated saved about $20,000. Commissioners were told the contract contingency remains sufficient: after the change order the available contingency was about $168,847.42.

A city project representative told the commission the turf-aggregate work would have been far more expensive if performed separately and that proceeding under the change order reduced overall cost and resolved the contractor dispute. The representative also asked for the commission's approval to keep the renovation on schedule and within the remaining contingency.

Separately, commissioners approved a smaller change order that covers repair work to a new epoxy finish at the concession stand area and a few added finishes in the existing concession area. Staff said the damage that required repair was caused by a patron jumping a construction barrier; the person and the associated team were being charged for damages and temporarily banned from the facility, staff reported. The commission was told offsets such as salvaging existing storefront doors and other credits reduced the net cost of that change order.

Commissioners voted to approve both change orders by recorded roll call; each motion passed 5-0. Project staff and the city engineer said they expected the Sportsplex to reach substantial completion in November and that a ribbon-cutting would be scheduled closer to that date.

The commission did not alter the approved project scope beyond the items described in the two change orders and directed staff to continue cost control and to notify the commissioners about the ribbon-cutting date when set.