Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Contracts topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission questions $58,000 CEI change order tied to Highway 98 project; staff told to negotiate
Summary
The city’s CEI (construction inspection) firm requested payment tied to time extensions on a Highway 98 paving contract; the CEI sought reimbursement for additional inspector/administrative days (staff cited ~60 of 105 extra days and an $58,000 figure). Commissioners asked for better prior communication and directed staff to negotiate rather than immediately approve the change order.
Port St. Joe commissioners discussed a change order request for construction engineering inspection (CEI) services related to the Highway 98 resurfacing contract at the Dec. 2 meeting. The CEI representative said inspectors and staff were allocated to the project for extra days after contractors received time extensions; the firm requested payment for approximately 60 of 105 additional days.
The CEI representative explained that inspectors and project administration were dedicated to the job for the duration of the project and described paperwork and field duties that continued during apparent downtimes. Commissioners pressed for detail about additional man‑hours, the responsibilities of inspectors during non‑paving days, and whether the paving contractor should absorb the added cost. One commissioner said the request (reported in the discussion as roughly $58,000) should have been presented before extending the contractor’s time so commissioners could evaluate the fiscal consequences.
Staff explained earlier contract language and noted that some additional expenditures were paid from city funds and grant underruns. Commissioners expressed willingness to negotiate a different figure but emphasized that the city needs clearer communication when extensions are granted and when change orders will affect the municipality’s budget.
Outcome: rather than approve the change order immediately, the commission directed staff to negotiate with the CEI and the paving contractor to determine a fair allocation of costs and to return to the commission with a recommendation.
