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Cascade Township approves reduced payment on pedestrian-bridge change order after negotiation
Summary
The board approved a negotiated change order payment for construction services on the Cascade Road pedestrian bridge project after staff and an infrastructure subcommittee negotiated a reduced invoice.
The Cascade Charter Township board approved a negotiated change order payment for construction services on the Cascade Road pedestrian bridge (Thornapple River crossing) during its May 6 meeting.
Staff recapped prior activity: Spaulding de Decker had submitted an original change order in June for more than $66,000, and later an amended invoice in August for roughly $89,000. The infrastructure subcommittee, composed of Supervisor Les Brown, Trustee Nordyke and Trustee Shipley, met with staff and recommended a compromise. Manager Smith said the township sent a letter offering $23,000 as a fair settlement for the additional work; Spaulding de Decker accepted that amount as the township's offer.
Trustees discussed a lapse in contractor–engineer communication after the project moved from one phased construction schedule to two phases, which contributed to the unexpected inspection and labor hours. "They missed the opportunity when the project schedule shifted to reevaluate the hours that it would take of an inspection," Manager Smith said. The board expressed frustration at the communication breakdown while acknowledging the underlying construction work was satisfactory.
Treasurer Korstanje moved and Trustee Nordhoek seconded approval of the change order request as presented. The motion carried by voice vote.
The board asked staff to include the settlement and the letter documenting the negotiation in the project file and to monitor contractor and engineer communications for future phases.
