Sioux City council approves change order for utilities field office after consultants find unstable soils and rubble

The Sioux City Council on a unanimous vote approved change order No. 2 to the contract with H. & R. Construction to complete remaining subgrade stabilization at the city’s new utilities field office building.

Mayor Robert E. Scott presented the item after staff reported that over‑excavation and proof‑rolling revealed higher moisture content and unstable soils beneath the building pad and surrounding paving. Utilities staff said an initial, time‑sensitive stabilization move of about $333,000 was authorized to protect soils before incoming rain, and the newly approved change order covers additional work identified once the site was opened.

Why it matters: consultants told the council the site is highly variable, with pockets of rubble and saturated fill that make predictability difficult. Jed McErnie of Certified Testing Services said the soil was “pumping,” that moisture readings reached about 40% in places and that, “the only way to ensure that you might not have some distress or movement below the pavement would be to remove all the fill” or to use engineered stabilization methods. Architect Mike Neswick said the building pad itself has been stabilized and compaction tests are passing, but the paving and parking areas are likely to need additional work.

What consultants recommended: the team outlined unit‑price stabilization options that have been in the project documentation. The transcript lists a base bid stabilization price ($6.80 per sq. ft.), a heavier‑duty worst‑case option (about $10.98 per sq. ft. referred to as “option 3”) and an intermediate option (about $7.24 per sq. ft., “option 4”). City staff said the change order’s worst‑case estimate assumes the heaviest option across the affected areas; if base‑bid measures are usable, the final added cost would be substantially lower.

Council debate focused on procurement and cost control. One council member noted that “change orders make money for two people, engineers and contractors” and asked why alternates were not included in the original bid package; consultants responded that unit prices for multiple stabilization approaches were included, that the site’s variability was greater than anticipated and that some of the rubble removal already was included in the base contract.

Project scale and next steps: the architects and testing firm noted the building is approximately 46,351 square feet and the paving area about 54,002.77 square feet; they said rubble is being removed to a specified elevation in the base bid and that selective stabilization on bad patches remains the recommended approach. The council approved the change order and directed staff to notify members when final change‑order totals are confirmed.

The vote and effect: the motion to approve change order No. 2 passed by a recorded 5–0 vote. The action authorizes H. & R. Construction to proceed with the remaining subgrade stabilization work as described in the change order before further paving and site work.