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Harris Street sanitary project behind schedule; board presses staff on contractor claims and potential overages
Summary
Board members at the July 21 meeting pressed staff for more detailed reporting after a CIP update showed the Harris Street sanitary and roadway project lagging schedule, encountering utility conflicts and raising concern about potential change orders or acceleration claims from the contractor.
Board members on July 21 expressed concern about the schedule and cost trajectory of the Harris Street sanitary expansion and related road work, pressing staff and the city's project manager for more information on contractor performance, change orders and potential damages.
The board raised the issue during the meeting's CIP update when project manager Mr. Riley reported construction progress and permitting milestones. Riley said revised construction plans for the east-side drainage had been approved by TxDOT and a connection permit had been issued, and that conduit and subgrade work were nearing completion. At the same time, a board member noted construction progress as reported in project documents equated to roughly 35% completion by current measures, while the schedule measured at a higher percentage earlier in the project timeline.
Board concerns and staff responses
Board members asked whether the contractor could accelerate remaining work and who would absorb the additional cost if acceleration was required. One board member asked whether liquidated damages (LDs) or other remedies were being considered. Riley said the city has discussed recovery strategies with the contractor and planned to pursue cost recovery where the city concludes extra costs resulted from contractor-controlled issues.
A board member noted the contract's baseline figure discussed in the meeting packet was about $3,750,000 and that, after change orders, a higher figure near $4,200,000 had been referenced. Staff replied that any increase tied to unforeseen field issues (for example, utility conflicts or discovered underground obstructions) would be the subject of review and that the city would push back on cost increases that it judged to be the contractor's responsibility.
Schedule and next steps
Riley said the contractor planned to pave by the end of the week or early the following week and that the team was exploring options to run certain tasks concurrently in the next two phases to recover schedule. The contractor's planned completion as presented in the update remained November 2025, but the board warned that, at current progress rates, meeting that date would be difficult without acceleration.
Staff said the public works team was preparing bid documents for remaining work in the right of way and that they would provide the board with additional reporting on schedule, costs, claims and any contractor recovery proposals at a future meeting.
Ending
Board members requested a fuller, targeted update on contractor claims, cost exposure and schedule recovery steps for the Harris Street project at an upcoming meeting. Staff committed to provide additional documentation and to present options if additional funding or scope changes are needed.
