Commission advances Milton Interchange Park work; multiple change orders and a $7.2M electrical GMP sent to consent agenda

Santa Rosa County staff briefed the commission committee on multiple construction, utility coordination and contract-management items tied to the Milton Interchange Park (MIP) on Dec. 8 and asked the board to place those items on the Dec. 11 consent agenda for formal action.

Items included change order No. 2 for Roberson Underground Utility (construction modifications), change order No. 3 to address an FPL easement requirement, a task order for construction-administration and a planned traffic signal at Business Street and State Road 87, and additional task orders related to the park’s buildout. Staff explained some change orders reflect necessary relocations of a major Okaloosa gas transmission line and coordination timing constraints.

Separately, operations staff presented a guaranteed maximum price (GMP) of $7,200,000 for initial electrical work for the MIP wastewater treatment project; the GMP represents the first draw on a previously approved loan and purchases electrical equipment and installation necessary to reach the project’s initial capacity. Commissioners described the GMP as a milestone that moves the project from planning into procurement and construction.

Commissioners pressed staff to coordinate signal timing and FDOT permitting to avoid safety issues, and thanked project staff for their efforts; the board had no objections and agreed to forward the items to the regular meeting consent agenda on Dec. 11 for formal approval.