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Council questions overlap and costs as Public Works Building work produces change orders and consultant hires
Summary
Council members raised concerns about repeated change orders on the new Public Works Building, a $9,886 change order increasing the Davis construction contract to $4,918,253, and the ratification of MG Engineering for environmental oversight after elevated manganese and underground storage tanks were found.
Council discussion on Nov. 10 turned to the Public Works Building project and related resolutions after the controller sought clarity on recent change orders and consulting contracts.
Controller Joy Taylor asked about change order details and whether the city had redundant consulting arrangements. Staff explained the first change order addressed removal of spoiled soil and underground storage tanks; a test adjacent to the site found elevated manganese concentrations requiring removal of about 275 cubic yards. A later change order (listed in the agenda as change order number 2, C O R‑0002) for $9,886 was identified as increasing the contract value between the City of Chester and Davis Construction to $4,918,253.
Staff said Colliers — the architect/engineer that prepared the bid specs — will remain involved to review submittals and sign required payment certificates under the AIA forms the city is using. For environmental oversight specific to the manganese removal (change order 1), staff said they engaged MG Engineering because its proposal was significantly less expensive than Colliers'. "Colliers is expensive," one speaker said; another argued Colliers has responsibilities because it prepared the bid documents.
Controller Taylor and other council members pressed for clarity on potential overlap between existing contracts and newly engaged consultants and recommended reviewing the city’s responsible contracting ordinance to limit duplication and control costs. Staff said additional change orders are likely as excavation continues and unknown subsurface conditions are revealed. Several cost figures and responsibilities were discussed; council did not take final votes at the meeting.
