Rapid City’s Public Works Committee voted Dec. 9 to approve change order No. 2 for the Wastewater Reclamation Facility (WRF) South Plant Improvements project, authorizing a $404,155 increase to the PKG Contracting Inc. construction contract.

Eddie Lopez, the project manager, told the committee the project was awarded in April 2024 with notice to proceed issued July 25, 2024, and is about 37% complete. Lopez said the bulk of change order No. 2—about 80%—covers replacement of deteriorated walkways on the primary clarifiers discovered when the tanks were drained, a step taken after determining rehabilitation was insufficient.

Lopez summarized recent project history and prior change orders (change order 1 approved May 19, 2025, and change order 1B approved Oct. 21, 2025). He said the team has identified roughly $900,000 in unforeseens and approximately $547,000 in total contract increases to date (about 0.32% of the contract in the presenter’s figures). Encumbered funds for the project total approximately $204.7 million; construction completed to date was cited around $76.8 million with approximately $127.3 million remaining. Funding sources Lopez listed include $52.8 million in grant funds, $136.5 million in SRF financing, and remaining costs to be covered by enterprise cash reserves.

Following the presentation, the committee moved, seconded and approved the change order by voice vote. The transcript records the motion as approved but does not include a roll-call tally in the record.

The project manager said electrical work, process piping and erection of precast buildings are winter priorities, and that staff will continue tracking construction cameras and aerials and report progress in committee newsletters and updates.