The Clay County Board of County Commissioners on Nov. 10 approved a $1.6 million amendment to Superior Construction’s contract for the Cathedral Oak Parkway project, closing a dispute that county staff said stemmed from permitting delays and higher material costs.

Ed Dendorp, bond transportation program administrator, told commissioners the amendment was negotiated after Superior claimed roughly nine months of delay and “material cost escalations, primarily asphalt, concrete, and limestone costs.” Dendorp said the delay was tied to the county’s inability to secure wetland mitigation credits and “extraordinary permit review cycle time by the permitting agency.”

Commissioner (Speaker 6) described the outcome as a cost Clay County residents picked up in part through a change in federal and state permitting oversight. “By the stroke of a pen, a judge's decision cost Clay County residents, in part, dollars 1,600,000,” the commissioner said, noting the county had negotiated the figure down from higher earlier claims.

The amendment was moved and seconded on the dais, and the board voted 5-0 to approve the payment and close out project 6B. County staff said the adjusted delivery date will coincide with the opening of State Road 23 and that Superior had completed required work to the county’s satisfaction.

Dendorp and representatives said the county will pursue any available remedies and will continue coordinating with state and federal agencies on permitting processes, but that the agreement was necessary to finish the project and transfer ongoing maintenance responsibility to the county once it opens.

The board also discussed broader budgetary implications. Commissioner (Speaker 6) urged the county to seek ways to insulate local projects from similar external impacts in the future.

The amendment references included the contract number presented in the agenda packet and was recorded as an item requiring board approval; the vote was recorded as unanimous on the evening’s consent calendar items.

What’s next: With the amendment approved, staff said final project close-out steps and documentation will be completed and the county will assume owner maintenance responsibilities for that section of Cathedral Oak Parkway once the roadway is accepted.

Vote: Approved 5-0.