Commission authorizes $71,214 change order to refinish elementary-school playground concrete; contractor shares cost

The City Commission authorized a $71,214 change order to refinish concrete on elementary-school playground sites, with East Grand Rapids Public Schools reimbursing the city for 50% of the cost.

City staff explained that a recent industry change in concrete mix design — driven by environmental rules, staff said — caused spalling and light top-layer cracking after the first winter on some poured concrete surfaces installed in 2023. Staff and school-district partners evaluated options and negotiated a grinding and polishing remediation rather than full removal and replacement.

Director Melville and other staff said the grinding approach removes the affected top layer without compromising structural integrity, improves slip resistance and produces an exposed-aggregate finish. The total project cost came in near the low end of earlier projections at about $142,000 for roughly 35,000 square feet; Keterberg Verhaag agreed to cover half the cost through a negotiated cost-share. Director Melville said the per-square-foot cost on this large municipal project was about $4 per square foot, below typical small-scale market rates.

Commission discussion touched on timing (work completed over the summer to avoid disrupting school), lingering uncertainty about long-term durability, why the city did not pursue insurance or legal recovery, and why the negotiated, shared-cost solution was chosen rather than lengthy litigation. A motion to authorize the change order passed by voice vote.

Next steps: the school district will reimburse the city for 50% of the approved change order; staff will monitor the surfaces over coming winters to determine whether further remediation is required.