Council approves $16,706 change order for West Foggy Drive to cover measured overruns

The Wasilla City Council on Monday approved AM number 2557, a $16,706 contract change order to Big Dipper Construction for West Foggy Drive improvements.

Council member Graham moved the item out of consent to ask whether work had already been completed and why the change order was necessary. "Is the project already done and now we're just paying for it?" Graham asked.

Public Works staff (Shaw) told the council the work was completed to reshape the road, improve drainage and import structural fill after obtaining railroad access. Shaw said the project began with a $57,000 bid and a 10 percent contingency ($5,700). When final measured quantities were calculated, additional fill and required seeding to meet railroad and stormwater requirements pushed costs beyond the contingency, prompting the change order request.

"This was a small project. It started out at a bid of 57,000," Shaw said. He added that the road has been rebuilt and has an improved driving surface but is not paved; paving will be considered in a future paving project or by future contract change order.

Council members asked how often contractors complete work and later seek additional payment; staff said short projects with final measured quantities can produce post‑completion change orders when intermediate pay requests are not made. Staff said the city prefers to identify overruns early on larger projects but in this short, one‑phase contract the contractor completed work and submitted final quantities for measurement.

The motion to approve AM 25‑57 was moved by Council member Graham, seconded by Council member Schmidt, and carried with no objection.