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Council approves DWSRF change orders after debate over cumulative costs and contractor conduct
Summary
Council approved two change orders for DWSRF water projects — $40,000 (project 8a) and $91,228 (project 13b) — while members pressed staff for cumulative change-order totals and raised resident complaints about contractor behavior and temporary concrete work.
The McAlester City Council approved two change orders tied to Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) projects after extended discussion about cumulative costs and construction impacts on local businesses and streets.
For item 3, the council authorized change order No. 1 for Lone Hickory Cattle LLC for $40,000 to address unforeseen sewer/manhole work near a railroad crossing tied to DWSRF project 8a. For item 4, council approved a $91,228 change order for project 13b to insert valves and stop a 20-inch tie-in that would otherwise require shutting water to a hospital.
Councilors questioned the frequency and size of change orders. A councilor asked staff for the cumulative total of change orders on the DWSRF work; staff reported one prior discretionary change order and noted unit-price bidding means measured quantities at completion generate adjustments. "State law will allow a cumulative change order of 10%... that 10 percent... must be rebid" a council member noted, and staff said the original value of project 13b was $2,800,000.
A resident raised concerns about contractor conduct and workmanship, saying gravel had been dumped on private property and temporary concrete patches had been used in places. Staff responded that some temporary pours were intentional to avoid leaving open trenches during long tie-in schedules and that deductions/credits have been processed on some projects.
Council directed staff to provide the exact cumulative change-order total for the DWSRF projects and approved the immediate change orders so work could proceed without risking a hospital water interruption.
Next steps: staff will deliver a written cumulative change-order report for the council and continue to manage deductions and incentives on outstanding contracts.
