Valley County commissioners on Jan. 12 reviewed multiple change-order requests for the county’s solid-waste transfer-site improvement project and approved six change orders pending consolidated documentation.

Contractors and staff explained time extensions were needed primarily because of a delayed Idaho Power pole installation (an earlier 44-day delay was cited) and additional lead time for fixtures and coordination with Ziply’s engineering and line crews. An engineer noted that those days extend the contract completion date; one staff member summarized that the additional days push the contract out roughly to Feb. 25, 2026, assuming a winter shutdown is accounted for.

Commissioners also discussed several scope items: larger-scale remote displays for weight/reader boards, rubber belting around scales (a proposed "betterment"), and extra lighting at the chute. An attendee said that if the county uses Scott’s original purchase order approach for the displays, it could save roughly $2,500 versus including the upgrade as a change order. The rubber belting cost figure cited in discussion was $6,600 for related scale work, and staff asked for written cost differences from the scale provider before finalizing those line items.

"Originally, Scott ordered this to save the county money so that we didn't have to charge for bond... and if the county wants to go back and pay the purchase order that Scott came up with, we will throw out these 2 change orders," one contractor said during the discussion. Commissioners moved to approve change orders a, b, c, d, e and f, with staff and engineers to prepare a formal consolidated change order that includes days and dollar amounts for signature and record.

Commissioners also scheduled a site visit and additional coring/testing to verify floor strength and finish punch lists; a site visit at Great West Engineering was placed on the calendar for Feb. 2 at 3:30 p.m.