Morganton approves $252,341 change order for Silver Creek pump station repairs

Morganton City Council on Feb. 9 approved Change Order No. 5 to the contract with Brushy Mountain Builders for the Silver Creek pump station improvements, adding $252,341.24 and increasing the contract total to $6,762,189.25.

Staff said crews discovered an abandoned wet‑well structure at the project site — a concealed void roughly 20 by 20 feet and deep — that was not shown on maps and required design adjustments. Engineers and geotechnical consultants determined the least costly approach was to shift the electrical equipment platform slightly north and perform a partial backfill rather than a full relocation that would have required extensive utility relocations and higher costs.

Council approved the change order by motion. Members then approved a budget amendment to fund the work by transferring $97,254 from the project contingency and $155,088 from the wastewater fund into the Silver Creek project account; the motion itemized the total as $252,342 in the motion language (rounded/matching motion text).

Staff said the partial backfill and small relocation reduces the volume of structural fill required and that the redesign should lessen future structural and flood‑risk concerns at the site. Council members asked technical questions about whether the void would be completely filled; staff explained a partial backfill beneath a relocated electrical platform would resolve the structural concern.

Next steps: the contractor will proceed under the revised scope; staff will monitor fill and structural work and report on project progress at future meetings.