Perkins City Council approved an amendment Dec. 31, 2024, reducing a February 14, 2023 award to Mears Engineering LLC for a hydraulic study from $32,500 to $29,500 and applying American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to cover the change.

City staff told the council that Aaron Mears determined the water hydraulic study is complete and that no further work is needed. "He has determined that he is finished with the water hydraulic study and that we don't need to take any more steps," staff said, and council members were told the $3,000 difference must be encumbered by Dec. 31 or returned to the ARPA funding pool.

The amendment was moved on the record during the special meeting; the transcript does not name a second. A roll-call vote recorded "yes" from Mayor Amy, the vice mayor, Jason and Veronica; Sarah Dickerson was listed as absent at the start of the meeting. The motion passed.

The action updates the city's prior contract record from Feb. 14, 2023, and frees $3,000 in ARPA funds to be reallocated for items on the current agenda. No additional conditions or amendments to the scope of work were recorded during the vote.

Background: the item was introduced on the agenda as an amendment to the prior award and framed as an administrative adjustment after the contractor notified the city the study was complete. The council's stated reason for accelerating the amendment was the requirement to encumber ARPA funds by Dec. 31, 2024.