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Port Richey approves negotiated payment to Ajax Paving for extra base material on Bay Boulevard project
Summary
Council approved a negotiated payment of $50,916.97 to Ajax Paving Industries for additional deep‑base material used on the Bay Boulevard resurfacing project after staff negotiated a substantial reduction from the contractor’s initial request; members expressed concern about line‑striping quality but retained the vendor for future work.
Port Richey — Council approved Nov. 25 a $50,916.97 payment to Ajax Paving Industries to cover additional deep‑base material used on the Bay Boulevard paving project, after staff negotiation reduced the contractor’s original claim.
Staff reported Ajax encountered sections that required deeper base material during milling and paved those areas rather than stopping work to reconvene with staff. City staff and public‑works leadership negotiated down an initial, larger request to the amount presented to council. Council members discussed product quality, lane‑striping alignment issues and the vendor’s regional standing. Some council members urged tougher enforcement and insisted contractors must notify the city before making substantial on‑site changes; others favored paying the reduced amount to preserve a working relationship with a large regional contractor that the city may use in the future.
A member of the public, Devin Aaron, criticized aspects of the pavement lining and urged the council not to pay for poor workmanship. Staff said most of the adjustment covered material costs for roughly 30 additional tons of base and said retainage had been held in the contract payment process. After debate a motion to approve the negotiated invoice was made, seconded and adopted.
Staff said the project’s primary funding included ARPA dollars and that paying the negotiated material invoice would rely on contingency within the project budget. Council instructed staff to document lessons learned for contract administration and to monitor striping and finishing details on future projects.
