Lake County board approves $311,850 change order for 2024 pavement project

The Lake County Board of Supervisors on a unanimous 5-0 vote approved Change Order No. 3 to the county's contract with Argonaut Constructors Inc., increasing the 2024 pavement rehabilitation contract by $311,850 to cover additional asphalt needed on remaining roads in the Cobb area.

Lars Ewing, interim public works director, told the board the original April 2025 contract covered about 16 miles of road work and combined reconstruction, paving and double chip seal. After a September change to replace some chip-seal work with a 2-inch asphalt overlay, Ewing said imperfections in several pulverized road segments meant more asphalt was required to finish four remaining roads. "The estimate is a little under 1,500 tons of asphalt, at a contract cost of $311,850," Ewing said. He added that "the contractor is prepared to start in tomorrow if your board is to approve this." Funding for the change order was identified as coming from SB1 appropriations.

A supervisor raised questions about project administration and contingency planning, urging the board to consider a process that would allow staff some built-in flexibility during construction. "We need to figure out a future process to allow you to finish a project and maybe give you a 10% wiggle room," the supervisor said, noting concern about timing and weather for completing work within the paving season. Ewing replied that county legal counsel and the chief administrative officer had discussed such options and staff would continue those conversations.

After a brief opportunity for public comment (no speakers were recorded on the provided segments), a board member moved to approve the change order and authorize the chair to sign. The motion was seconded, the board voted "Aye," and the chair announced the motion carried 5-0. The board then acknowledged Ewing and moved on to the next agenda item.